NORTHROP N9M
AT PALM SPRINGS AIR SHOW
(Contributed by Walter Scott, Docent, Palm
Springs Air Museum)
PSAM Website: Jan. 13-18 (daily)
"Northrop Flying Wing" - Designed by Jack Northrop during the early 1940s,
is a most significant historical aircraft. This radical design was the
precursor to the Stealth Bomber. The object of a political controversy,
Stuart Symington, Secretary of Defense under President Truman, ordered
the original 13 Flying Wing aircraft and plans destroyed. Original Northrup
employees restored this Flying Wing over an eight-year period. Daily
seminars delivered at 11 AM, 1 & 3 PM.
(Click on the pictures for expanded view)
N9M making a pass over the crowd during one of
the flying exhibitions. |
For those who have an interest in "WINGS" there
is no substitute for viewing a flying specimen static and then flying.
|
N9M sitting on the ramp waiting to be prepared
for another demonstration flight. |
This was a photo opt for those attending the air
show. The main wheels are P-51 by the way.
|
This rear view of the aircraft shows the control
surfaces. The shady panel just
outside of the nacelles for the propellor
shafts is where the cooling leaves the plane.
The Engines are FRANKLIN and the props have a hydraulic coupling.... the
propellers can be "spun" without turning the engines. There are two
hydraulic systems, one on
each engine.
|
This is the left aileron and rudder Northrop used
for this model, N9MB of his wings. These are power boosted control
surfaces.
The "slots" viewed here are hard secured open.
This wing was tested to 300 MPH according to an engineer who accompanied
the plane from The Parker Air Show last week and was accomplishing a preflight
on last Monday (13th). |
A full rear shot in the morning sun.
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....1/24/03...........................................................................................Back
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