The Northrop N-9M was a one-third scale development aircraft for the Northrop B-35 flying wing bomber.

On October 30, 1941, the preliminary order for development of the B-35 was confirmed, including engineering, testing, and — most importantly — a 60 ft wingspan 1/3-scale aircraft designated the N-9M by the company that was to be used in gathering data on performance. One was ordered in the original contract; this was expanded to three in early 1943 and a fourth was ordered a few months later. They were designated N-9M-1, -2, -A, and -B, respectively.

The N-9M was of partial wood construction to reduce weight; some wing surfaces were also wooden. The central section (roughly equivalent to the fuselage) was made of steel tubing. It was powered by two Menasco C65 -1 engines, driving two-bladed propellers. The original engines were 290 hp; the N-9M-B later upgraded to 400 hp Franklin engines.

The first flight of the N-9M occurred on December 27 1942. On May 19 1943, it crashed, killing its pilot. The other crewmembers (co-pilot and flight engineer) escaped alive. Nearly every test flight was stopped by some sort of mechanical failure. The Menasco engines proved particularly troublesome.

When the B-35 programme was cancelled completely, every test model was scrapped, with the exception of the N-9M-B. In 1982, volunteers of the Chino Planes of Fame Museum began restoring it to flying condition. On November 11 1994, it flew for the first time in 45 years.

Specifications (N-9M)

General Characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Length: 17 ft 9 in (5.4 m)
• Wingspan: 60 ft 0 in (18.3 m)
• Height: ft in ( m)
• Wing area: 490 ft² (45.5 m²)
• Empty: lb ( kg)
• Loaded: 7,000 lb (3,175 kg)
• Maximum takeoff: lb ( kg)
• Powerplant: 2x Menasco C6S -4, 275 hp (205 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: mph ( km/h)
• Range: miles ( km)
• Service ceiling: 21,500 ft (6,555 m)
• Rate of climb: ft/min ( m/min)
• Wing loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
• Power/Mass: hp/lb ( kW/kg)

Related content

Related development: Northrop N-1M - Northrop YB-35 - Northrop YB-49

Comparable aircraft: Horten Ho VII

Designation sequence: