Looking like a Photoshop job with its six J35 engines, the first XB-48 is seen flying over the wide mouth of the Patuxent River on its 37-minute flight from Baltimore to NAS Pax River. Martin claimed this was the first flight, but other sources say that had occurred on 14 June. Pilot Pat Tibbs blew all four tyres of the bicycle-type landing gear when landing at Pax River. The B-48 competed against the North American B-45, Convair B-46 and Boeing B-47. The B-45 Tornado was ordered and the swept-winged B-47 Stratojet selected for further development. Two XB-48 prototypes built. Photo from: Martin