Northrop N-9M Flying Wing

[Jay Beckman]

So very far ahead of its time.  (I'd say Jack got it right after all...!)

[Rob Silliman]

Was this at Chino?  I didn't realize that there was one still flying.

[Bubak]

Jay very nice!!!

[Jay Beckman]

Yup at Chino...

Four year fix after an engine fire in 2006 but she's back in the air.

Thanks Kaspar!

(Note the designation change in the title.  I "assumed" this was the same airframe as the one at NASM but it isn't...  My Bad)

[BillOz]

That is very nice.   I bet that is a real tricky bird and a treat to fly.  Certainly a treat for those who get to see it.  Nice shots.  Any idea who was flying? 

Though this may have been Jack Northrop's design, the Germans had similar flying wings already, some as gliders, and even later jet powered.  Mr. Northrop indicated he was inspired by the pre-war flying wing gliders of the Horten brothers, which had won several gliding competitions.

Mr. Northrop was given special clearance right before his death to see drawings and a scale model of the B-2 Spirit, which coincidentally has the same wingspan as the Northrop jet powered flying wing, the YB-49.