The second XB-51, left, is prepared for its first flight, with the first one, 46-685, on the right. The Martin factory buildings are still in WWII camouflage. The XB-51 was fast and worked well, but had short endurance and the airframe was not very strong. Photo from: Glenn L Martin Maryland Aviation Museum

The bizarre XB-51 trijet was only a light bomber, originally designated XA-45. The USAF instead bought the Canberra, also built by Martin as the B-57. This was the first of two XB-51s, first flown on 28 October 1949. There was an air-to-air photo session on 14 November 1949. There was a bullet fairing around the T-tail joint by late February 1950. 46-685 later starred in the movie Toward the Unknown as a 'Gilbert XF-120'. Photo from: National Museum of the US Air Force