Northrop N-9MB

Northrop N-9MB
Šalies	Jav
Vaidmenį	Skraidančio sparno prototipas
Pirmasis skrydis	1942 m. gruodžio 27 d.
Pastatytas	4

2007 Northrop N-9M buvo maždaug trečdalio mastelio, 60 pėdų ilgio visų sparnų orlaivis, naudojamas viso dydžio, 172 pėdų sparnų ilgio "Northrop XB-35" ir YB-35 skraidančio sparno ilgojo nuotolio, sunkiojo bombonešio kūrimui. Pirmą kartą skrido 1942 m., N-9M (M for Model) buvo trečiasis iš visų sparnų "Northrop" orlaivių konstrukcijų linijos, kuri prasidėjo 1929 m., Kai Jackui Northropui pavyko atlikti ankstyvus eksperimentus su savo vieno stūmimo sraigtu, dviejų uodegų, dvigubos strėlės, visos įtemptos metalinės odos "Northrop Flying Wing X-216H" monoplanu, o po dešimtmečio - dvigubos atramos N-1M 1939–1941 m. "Northrop" novatoriškas visų sparnų orlaivis po daugelio metų paskatins "Northrop-Grumman" galiausiai sukurti pažangų "B-2 Spirit" slaptą bombonešį, kuris debiutavo oro pajėgų inventoriuje 1989 m.

Šaltinis: Northrop N-9MB Vikipedijoje

Northrop N-9MB flying wing Walk Around
Fotografas	Cees Hendriksas
Lokalizavimo	Nežinoti
Nuotraukos	19

Northrop N-9MB 01

Northrop N-9MB 02

Northrop N-9MB 03

Northrop N-9MB 04

Northrop N-9MB 05

Northrop N-9MB 06

Northrop N-9MB 07

Northrop N-9MB 08

Northrop N-9MB 09

Click on a photo and use the mouse scroll to view all photos

Wait, Searching Northrop N-9MB for you…

Taip pat žiūrėkite:

Northrop N9MB Flying Wing Walk Around
Fotografai	Jonas Heckas, Vladimiras Jakubovas
Lokalizavimo	Nežinoti
Nuotraukos	36

Northrop N9MB Flying Wing Walk Around
Fotografas	Vladimiras Yakubovas
Lokalizavimo	Ramiojo vandenyno pakrantės Svajonių mašinos
Nuotraukos	47

A Scale Model for a Giant Ambition

2007 Northrop N-9M was a family of approximately 1/3-scale flying wing aircraft developed to provide flight test data for the massive XB-35 Ir YB-49 bombers. The N-9MB was the fourth and final aircraft in the series, featuring more powerful engines and refined aerodynamics. By eliminating the fuselage and tail surfaces, Jack Northrop aimed to create an aircraft with the absolute minimum of parasitic drag, though the design presented extreme challenges in stability and control for the era.

Attribute	Technical Specification (N-9MB)
Vaidmenį	Experimental Proof-of-Concept Aircraft
Įgulos	1 (Pilot)
First Flight (N-9M Series)	December 27, 1942
Jėgainė	2 × Franklin 0-540-7 eight-cylinder engines
Horsepower	300 hp (224 kW) per engine
Sparnų ilgis	60 feet (18.3 m)
Maximum Speed	258 mph (415 km/h)
Construction	Wood (Wings) and Welded Steel Tubing (Center section)

Engineering the Pure Wing

The “Elevon” Control System: Without a tail, the N-9MB used elevons—surfaces that combined the functions of elevators (pitch) and ailerons (roll). These were located on the trailing edge of the wing.
Split Flap Rudders: For yaw control (steering left/right), the aircraft utilized “clamshell” or split flaps at the wingtips. Opening one side created drag that pulled the wing in that direction, acting as a rudder without the need for a vertical fin.
Pusher Configuration: To keep the airflow over the wing as “clean” as possible, the engines were mounted internally with the propellers at the rear, pushing the aircraft forward.
Leading-Edge Slots: To combat the inherent stability issues of a flying wing at low speeds, the N-9MB featured fixed slots on the leading edges of the wingtips to prevent tip-stalling.

The Legacy of a Visionary

Data for the Bombers: The N-9M program successfully proved that a large flying wing could be flown, though it revealed that the design was highly sensitive to the center of gravity and prone to “tumbling” if pushed beyond its limits.
The Yellow Paint: The N-9MB was famously painted in a high-visibility yellow and blue scheme, making it easier for ground observers to track its orientation during complex test maneuvers.
The B-2 Spirit Connection: Decades later, when the B-2 Stealth Bomber was designed, engineers used the flight data and concepts pioneered by the N-9M. When Jack Northrop was shown a model of the B-2 shortly before his death, he reportedly wrote on a pad: “Now I know why God kept me alive for 25 years.”
The Final Loss: For many years, the N-9MB was the only flying example of a Northrop flying wing in the world, maintained by the Planes of Fame Air Museum. Tragically, it was lost in a crash in 2019, leaving no airworthy examples of this historic series remaining.