Northrop N-9MB | |
|---|---|
| 国家 | 美国 |
| 作用 | 飞翼原型 |
| 首次飞行 | 1942年12月27日 |
| 建立 | 4 |
这 诺斯罗普N-9M 是一个大约三分之一的规模，60英尺跨度全翼飞机用于开发全尺寸，172英尺翼展诺斯罗普XB-35和YB-35飞行翼远程，重型轰炸机。第一次飞行是在1942年， N-9M（M代表模型）是1929年开始的全翼诺斯罗普飞机设计系列中的第三架，当时杰克·诺斯罗普成功地进行了单推进螺旋桨、双尾双臂、全重金属皮肤诺斯罗普飞翼X-216H单翼飞机的早期实验，十年后，1939-1941年的双螺旋桨N-1M。诺斯罗普开创性的全翼飞机将在多年后引领诺斯罗普-格鲁曼公司最终研制出先进的B-2精神隐形轰炸机，该轰炸机于1989年在空军库存中首次亮相。
| Northrop N-9MB flying wing Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| 摄影师 | 塞斯·亨德里克斯 |
| 本地化 | 未知 |
| 照片 | 19 |
另请参阅：
| Northrop N9MB Flying Wing Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| 摄影师 | 约翰·赫克，弗拉基米尔·雅库博夫 |
| 本地化 | 未知 |
| 照片 | 36 |
| Northrop N9MB Flying Wing Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| 摄影师 | 弗拉基米尔·亚库博夫 |
| 本地化 | 太平洋海岸梦想机器 |
| 照片 | 47 |
A Scale Model for a Giant Ambition
这 诺斯罗普N-9M was a family of approximately 1/3-scale flying wing aircraft developed to provide flight test data for the massive XB-35 和 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) |
|---|---|
| 作用 | Experimental Proof-of-Concept Aircraft |
| 船员 | 1 (Pilot) |
| First Flight (N-9M Series) | December 27, 1942 |
| 动力装置 | 2 × Franklin 0-540-7 eight-cylinder engines |
| Horsepower | 300 hp (224 kW) per engine |
| 翼展 | 60 feet (18.3 m) |
| 最高速度 | 258 mph (415 km/h) |
| 建设 | 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.
意见：1509
