Northrop YA-9
Northrop · United States · first flew 1972 · bomber
The Northrop YA-9 was an American prototype attack aircraft built for the United States Air Force A-X programme. It was a shoulder-wing monoplane of riveted aluminium alloy with honeycomb structures.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 16.31 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Cruciform |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Shoulder-wing monoplane
- Two turbofans in nacelles under the wing roots
- Large cruciform stabiliser
Look for a shoulder-wing jet with engine nacelles under the wing roots and a large cruciform tail intended to improve directional stability for low-level flight.
Specifications
- The Northrop YA-9 has a length of 16.31 m (54 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17.68 m (58 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 837 km/h (520 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Northrop and Fairchild Republic were chosen on 18 December 1970 to build the YA-9A and YA-10A prototypes. The YA-9 first flew on 30 May 1972 and was passed over in favour of the YA-10, which became the A-10 Thunderbolt II.
Variants
Prototypes only. They used the 7,200 lbf Lycoming YF102 turbofan, a design derived from the T55 turboshaft, and carried a 20 mm M61 Vulcan as a substitute for the GAU-8/A cannon.
Where you'll see it
It served only as a competitive prototype and did not enter production.
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