Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing |
Tragically, the last surviving Norhrop N9M was destroyed in a crash near Chino on April 22, 2019. Its pilot, David Michael Vopat, was killed in the crash. It was the only Northrop flying wing from the 1940s which was still flying. It was powered by a pair of Franklin OX 540-7 horizontally opposed eight-cylinder engines. It had a wingspan of 60 feet, and weighed around 7,000 pounds.
Northrop N9M-B N9MB was one of four 1/3-scale testbeds for the Northrop XB-35 Flying Wing bomber. They served the function of free flying wind tunnel models. The four subscale versions of the B-35 carried no military serial or civilian registration.
The N-9MB made its first flight on Jan. 26, 1945, piloted by Harry Crosby. It was flown primarily out of Muroc Army Airfield.
The N9M-B was acquired by Ed Maloney and the Ontario Air Museum in the 1950s. Following the closure of the Ontario Air Museum, many of its aircraft were transferred to the Planes of Fame Museum at Chino.
The Planes of Fame Museum restored the N9M-B from 1981 to 1994. 20,000 man hours were expended on its restoration to airworthy condition. The N9M-B was given the registration N9MB.
I photographed the N9M-B at many airshows between 1995 and 2013.
In 1970, the N9M-B was stored in a vacant lot near the Ontario Airport with a number of airplanes from the defunct Ontario Air Museum. The planes were later transferred to the Planes of Fame collection.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB in a storage yard in Ontario in 1970. It is accompanied by other aircraft from the defunct Ontario Air Museum including Douglas A2D Skyshark BuNo 125485, a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress, a North American P-51D Mustang, a Vought F4U Corsair, a North American F-86D Sabre, and a Titan Missile.
The outer wing panels of the N9M-B were stored next to the forward fuselage of Convair B-36H 51-5720.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB made one of its first public appearances after its restoration at the Edwards AFB Open House on October 21, 1995
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Edwards Air Force Base Open House on October 21, 1995.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Edwards Air Force Base Open House on October 21, 1995.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Edwards Air Force Base Open House on October 21, 1995.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Edwards Air Force Base Open House on October 21, 1995.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Air Museum Special Eventat Chino on March 15, 1997.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Air Museum Special Eventat Chino on March 15, 1997.
Planform view of Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Edwards Air Force Base Open Houseon October 3, 1998
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB taxis past a pair of F-117 Full Scale Development (FSD) prototypes, serials 79-01782 and 79-01783. These early model stealth fighters lack some of the radar defeating refinements of the production models. The cockpit canopies lack
the serrated edges of the F-117A. Note the small tail wheel on the N9M-B for the protection of the pusher propellors.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Chino Warbird Show on April 24, 1999.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Chino Warbird Show on October 8, 2000.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Chino Warbird Show on October 8, 2000.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Chino Warbird Show on October 8, 2000.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Air Museum Warbird Special Event at Chino on October 6, 2001,
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Edwards Air Force Base Open House on October 26, 2002.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the rehearsal for the Edwards Air Force Base Open House on October 24, 2003.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the rehearsal for the Edwards Air Force Base Open House on October 24, 2003.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the rehearsal for the Edwards Air Force Base Open House on October 24, 2003.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the rehearsal for the Edwards Air Force Base Open House on October 24, 2003.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Edwards Air Force Base Open House on October 25, 2003.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Edwards Air Force Base Open House on October 25, 2003.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Edwards Air Force Base Open House on October 25, 2003.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Edwards Air Force Base Open House on October 25, 2003.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 16, 2004.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 16, 2004.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 16, 2004.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 16, 2004.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 16, 2004.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 16, 2004.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 16, 2004.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Arrival Day for the Hawthorne Air Faire on August 13, 2004.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Arrival Day for the Hawthorne Air Faire on August 13, 2004.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 22, 2005.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 22, 2005.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 22, 2005.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 22, 2005.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 22, 2005.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 22, 2005.
You can buy framed prints or greeting cards of this photograph.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Museumn at Chino on January 6, 2007. It was being repaired following an in flight engine fire in May 2006.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 17, 2008. It was being repaired following an engine fire.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 17, 2008.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 15, 2010. This was its first performance at the airshow since 2005.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 15, 2010.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 15, 2010.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 15, 2010.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 15, 2010.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 15, 2010.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 15, 2010.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 14, 2011.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino on May 14, 2011. It taxied out for a flight display, but gusty winds kept it grounded.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Camarillo Airshow on August 17, 2013.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Camarillo Airshow on August 17, 2013.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Camarillo Airshow on August 17, 2013.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Camarillo Airshow on August 17, 2013.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Camarillo Airshow on August 17, 2013.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing, Camarillo, August 17, 2013: You can buy this photo as prints as large as 16" x 24".
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Camarillo Airshow on August 17, 2013.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Camarillo Airshow on August 17, 2013.
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB at the Camarillo Airshow on August 17, 2013.
You can buy a 2020 calendar featuring my photographs of Vintage Airplanes at Camarillo, California.
A dozen photos of vintage airplanes flying at the Wings Over Camarillo Airshow on August 17, 2013. Aircraft pictured include:
Northrop N9M-B Flying Wing N9MB
North American P-51D Mustang N5444V Miss Kandy
Republic P-47G Thunderbolt NX3395G Spirit of Atlantic City NJ
Bell P-63A King Cobra NX163BP Pretty Polly
North American B-25J Mitchell N30801 Executive Sweet
North American SNJ-5 Texan N1038A War Dog
Row 44 Grumman HU-16B Albatross N44HQ
Vought F4U-1A Corsair NX83782
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat N1078Z Minsi III.
Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat N7825C
Grumman F7F-3P Tigercat NX909TC
Mitsubishi A6M3 Model 22 "Zero" N712Z
Put a copy of the Vintage Airplanes at Camarillo, California: 2020 Calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.
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