Hal Markarian (1929 — 2012) was an Armenian American aircraft designer who is known for implementing the initial designs of the B-2 Stealth Bomber. He produced a sketch that was the inspiration for the modern B-2 Spirit. [1] Today's B-2 Spirit incorporates much of Markarian's design.
During the initial project of the Stealth Bomber, Hal Markarian was appointed as project manager. [2]
The first sketches of the aircraft were done by Markarian in June 1979. [3] Markarian's proposal was one of the two designs that were considered in the making of the Stealth Bomber. Markarian's proposal was very similar to the YB-49, an aircraft designed by Northrop Grumman three decades earlier in 1947. [4]
The design was influenced by Irv Waaland and John Cashen who were experts in stealth technology. [3] The team also included aerodynamicist Hans Grellman, as well as Dick Scherrer, a designer who had arrived from Lockheed. [5] The design was much lighter and thinner than the modern B-2 Stealth Bomber and had six engines equipped, most likely GE F404. [1] The aircraft had a diamond shaped center body which served to accommodate a crew, fuselage and weapons. [3]
The aircraft design that Northrop Grumman would later adopt was similar, though it had a deeper center-section of the aircraft than Markarian's design. Due to demands from the Strategic Air Command, the aircraft was also made much heavier and had larger weapon carriers. [1]
Hal Markarian (1929 — 2012) was an Armenian American aircraft designer who is known for implementing the initial designs of the B-2 Stealth Bomber. He produced a sketch that was the inspiration for the modern B-2 Spirit. [1] Today's B-2 Spirit incorporates much of Markarian's design.
During the initial project of the Stealth Bomber, Hal Markarian was appointed as project manager. [2]
The first sketches of the aircraft were done by Markarian in June 1979. [3] Markarian's proposal was one of the two designs that were considered in the making of the Stealth Bomber. Markarian's proposal was very similar to the YB-49, an aircraft designed by Northrop Grumman three decades earlier in 1947. [4]
The design was influenced by Irv Waaland and John Cashen who were experts in stealth technology. [3] The team also included aerodynamicist Hans Grellman, as well as Dick Scherrer, a designer who had arrived from Lockheed. [5] The design was much lighter and thinner than the modern B-2 Stealth Bomber and had six engines equipped, most likely GE F404. [1] The aircraft had a diamond shaped center body which served to accommodate a crew, fuselage and weapons. [3]
The aircraft design that Northrop Grumman would later adopt was similar, though it had a deeper center-section of the aircraft than Markarian's design. Due to demands from the Strategic Air Command, the aircraft was also made much heavier and had larger weapon carriers. [1]