Convair XB-46. Includes BONUS kits of the North American B-4 5A Tornado, Northrop F-89B Scorpion and Ryan XV-5A Vertifan. In 1944, with the success of the German jet bomber Ar-234, U.S. war department was aware of aviation advance in the enemy. So a requirement for a new design of the jet bomber which tactical radius could cover 1000-miles was issued. Convair (Consolidated Vultee Aircraft) submitted the Model 109 mockup. It was approved and awarded contract for three prototypes which designated XB-46. Other designs in the competition included the North American XB-45, the Boeing XB-47 & the Martin XB-48. In fall of 1945, the funds for two XB-46 prototypes was transferred to Convair's other jet attacker project, the XA-44 while the first XB-46 was nearing completion. In August 1946, the B-45 was endorsed to be the immediate production as the threat from Soviet was rising, and the XB-46 was permitted for test purpose. In 1947, first flight was made and accepted by the Air Force but the program was cancelled in the same year. Further flight tests were occurred until 1949.
