Northrop N-9MB

Northrop N-9MB
Країні	Сша
Роль	Прототип літаючого крила
Перший політ	27 грудня 1942 р.
Побудований	4

У 201 Нортроп Н-9М був масштабом приблизно однієї третини і 60-футовим розмахом, який використовувався для розробки повнорозмірних 172-футових крил Northrop XB-35 і літаючого крила великої дальності, важкого бомбардувальника YB-35. Вперше здійснений у 1942 році, N-9M (M — модель) був третім у лінії проектів літаків Northrop, які почалися в 1929 році, коли Джек Нортроп досяг успіху в ранніх експериментах зі своїм одноштовхаючим гвинтом, двохвостим, двострільним, повністю покритим металевою обшивкою монопланом Northrop Flying Wing X-216H, а десятиліттям пізніше — двоопорним N-1M 1939—1941 років. Новаторський літак Northrop з повним крилом призвів Northrop-Grumman через багато років до розробки вдосконаленого стелс-бомбардувальника B-2 Spirit, який дебютував на озброєнні ВПС у 1989 році.

Джерело: Northrop N-9MB у Вікіпедії

Northrop N-9MB flying wing Walk Around
Фотограф	Сеес Гендрік
Локалізацією	Незнай
Фото	19

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Northrop N9MB Flying Wing Walk Around
Фотографів	Джон Хек, Володимир Якубов
Локалізацією	Незнай
Фото	36

Northrop N9MB Flying Wing Walk Around
Фотограф	Володимир Якубов
Локалізацією	Тихоокеанське узбережжя Мрія машини
Фото	47

A Scale Model for a Giant Ambition

У 201 Нортроп Н-9М was a family of approximately 1/3-scale flying wing aircraft developed to provide flight test data for the massive XB-35 І 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)
Роль	Experimental Proof-of-Concept Aircraft
команда	1 (Pilot)
First Flight (N-9M Series)	December 27, 1942
Силова установка	2 × Franklin 0-540-7 eight-cylinder engines
Horsepower	300 hp (224 kW) per engine
Розмах крил	60 feet (18.3 m)
Максимальна швидкість	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.