The Reason Why This Aircraft Was Called The Flying Chainsaw

The XP-79’s main goal was to attack enemy bombers by ramming into them. The plane’s unique shape and armor allowed it to slice off the tails and wings of enemy planes earning the nickname, “The Flying Chainsaw.”

Top Secret Project

During WWII, the USAF was working with Northrop on a project- the XP-79. It was intended to ram into enemy bombers and split them open.

To achieve this feat, the pilot has to lie down in a prone position. Because of this, it was known as the Flying Chainsaw.

The XP-79

Adjacent to the MX324’s development was the Northrop XP-79, which was designed to go head-to-head with the German Messerschmitt Me-163 Komet. 

It was projected to reach speeds of 500 mph with the cabin pressurized to ensure the pilot’s survival up to 40,000 ft.

The XP-70 was equipped with a large swept wing surface along with vertical tail fins at the rear for extra stabilization and maneuverability. Its turbo engine was estimated to generate 1,150 lbs of thrust.

The Flying Chainsaw

The Armed Force’s most fundamental requirement was for the plane to ram into enemy bombers. At this point, the Germans were using similar concepts in battle.

It was intended to reach peak altitude in minutes – but no armament was intended for this design.

The XP-79’s body would be filled with heavy-gauge magnesium armor plating to mitigate damage while ramming into enemy aircraft. The plane moved so fast that enemy gunners wouldn’t be able to target it – or so they hoped.

The pilot could also protect his head with the cockpit’s bulletproof glass.

A Battle That No Longer Existed

By 1945, the XP-79 was being readied for a battle that no longer existed. Further Luftwaffe bombing formations never materialized in the late years of the war.

The first flying XP-79 was the XP-79B with its first taxiing test done on June 1945. The Flying Chainsaw only held one flight test which lasted less than half an hour, ending with disaster.

During its maiden test flight, the XP-79 crashed, killing its test pilot.

Eventual Cancellation

Northrop engineers wanted to have the XP-79’s control problem fixed, but the USAF didn’t want to risk any more disasters as WWII was over at this point, and more conventional designs were entering production.