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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.

Design for the B-2 Stealth Bomber

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 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]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Sweetman, Bill (1999). Inside the stealth bomber. Zenith Imprint. ISBN 1610606892. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
^ "Northrop B-2A Spirit". Joe Baugher. October 16, 2001. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c Norris, Guy (June 1991). "B-2's Changing Shape" (PDF). Flight International. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
^ "B-2 Spirit History". Air Attack. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
^ Goebel, Greg (Feb 1, 2012). "The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber". AirVectors. Retrieved 26 April 2013.