The Bell D-35 was conceived of as a potential bomber-interceptor for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) towards the close of World War 2 (1939-1945). With the dismantling of the Italian, German, and Japanese war machines, the United States would now concentrate of airspace deterrence / defense from the Soviet threat in the East. Various design competitions were had in 1945 for just a solution - resulting in the ultimately-abandoned D-35.
The USAAF requirement called for an interceptor capable of reaching 700 miles-per-hour, achieving short-term supersonic performance through both aerodynamic design and powerplant. This aircraft would be capable of flying upwards of 50,000 of altitude to meet the threat head-on and rate-of-climb would have the system reach this in just four minutes under full power. In keeping with USAAF wartime tradition, the proposed armament fit would center on multiple machine guns, in this case 4 x 12.7mm air-cooled Browning heavies.
Bell was one of six respondents to this requirement, joining competitors Consolidated Vultee, Douglas, North American, Northrop, and Republic Aviation.
Because turbojet technology of the time would not allow for the needed thrust / power / speed output to get the aircraft up to altitude at-speed, it was decided that a rocket motor would be the best fit for the requirement. For the Bell submission, this would include a pairing of two rocket boosters for maximum performance set to output 12,000lb.
The resulting Bell design of October 1945 was centered on a delta-wing planform (45-degree sweep along the leading edges) with the single-seat cockpit over the nose and the vertical tail fins set at each wingtip. The mainplanes were shoulder-mounted along the sides of the fuselage with the propulsion system buried within. This unit would exhaust through a circular opening at the rear of the fuselage between the two mainplane trailing edges. The four machine guns were to be installed under the nose, beneath the cockpit floor, to give the aircraft an appropriate offensive punch against enemy bombers.
Like other rocket-driven developments of the day, the Bell proposal would be launched unconventionally, most likely by launch rail under its own booster power. This is assumed as only a pair of main landing gear legs were planned for ground-running actions along with skids added to each wingtip fin to allow the aircraft to land in an open field under its own weight and drag.
As drawn up, the fighter was to have an overall length of 28 feet, a wingspan of 26.5 feet, and a gross weight nearing 17,000lb - this ballooning to 29,100lb when fully laden.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
✓Interception
Ability to intercept inbound aerial threats by way of high-performance, typically speed and rate-of-climb.
✓X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator)
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.
MULTI-ENGINE
Incorporates two or more engines, enhancing survivability and / or performance.
WING SWEEPBACK
Mainplanes, or leading edges, features swept-back lines for enhanced high-speed performance and handling.
WINGLETS
Mainplanes capped with winglets, providing improved fuel efficiency and enhanced handling.
RUGGED AIRFRAME
Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.
HIGH-SPEED PERFORMANCE
Can accelerate to higher speeds than average aircraft of its time.
HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE
Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.
PILOT / CREW EJECTION SYSTEM
Assisted process of allowing its pilot and / or crew to eject in the event of an airborne emergency.
ENCLOSED CREWSPACE(S)
Features partially- or wholly-enclosed crew workspaces.
RETRACTABLE UNDERCARRIAGE
Features retracting / retractable undercarriage to preserve aerodynamic efficiency.
Length
28.1 ft (8.55 m)
Width/Span
29.2 ft (8.90 m)
Empty Wgt
17,196 lb (7,800 kg)
MTOW
29,101 lb (13,200 kg)
Wgt Diff
+11,905 lb (+5,400 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Bell D-35 production variant)
monoplane / shoulder-mounted / delta, tailless
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Shoulder-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper section of the fuselage, generally at the imaginary line intersecting the pilot's shoulders.
Delta, Tailless
The delta planform lacks a conventional tailplane arrangement with all wing surface area taken up by the delta planform.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the base Bell D-35 production variant)
Installed:
2 x Rocket booster motors generating 12,000lb of thrust each for high-speed, short-term flight.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Bell D-35 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
PROPOSED:
4 x 0.50 caliber (12.7mm) Browning air-cooled Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs).
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
D-35 - Base Series Designation.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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United States (cancelled)
