Product Information

 Douglas XB-43 was America's first turbojet-powered bomber prototype configured with a pair of buried J35 engines which provided a combined thrust of 7,500 pounds. Essentially a straightforward modification of Douglas' piston-engined, pusher-prop XB-42 Mixmaster, the XB-43 completed its maiden flight at Muroc on May 17, 1946.

 XB-43 went on to demonstrate a maximum sea-level speed of 515 mph, a service ceiling of 38,500 feet, and a maximum range of 2,840 miles. By the time of its first flight, however, the novel jet bomber had been overtaken by more advanced designs already on the drawing board, and it was soon relegated to the role of a technology demonstrator.