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|---|---|---|---|
| Description | |||
| Manufacturer: | Northrop | ||
| Designation: | A-9 | ||
| Version: | A | ||
| Type: | Attack Bomber (Light) | ||
| Specifications | |||
| Length: | 53' 6" | 16.31 M | |
| Height: | 17' 10" | 5.44 M | |
| Wingspan: | 57' | 17.37 M | |
| Propulsion | |||
| No. of Engines: | 2 | ||
| Powerplant: | Avco/Lycoming ALF-502 | ||
| Thrust (each): | 6000 | 2721 | |
| Performance | |||
Designed by Northrop in the mid 1970s, the A-9 Ground Attack Aircraft was developed in response to a request by the US Air Force for a rugged, close air support aircraft capable of destroying the heaviest Soviet tanks and armored vehicles. Envisioned as a "flying tank" the A-9 was designed with low level survivability in mind. With redundant flight control systems and aluminum alloy armor 1.25 to 2.5 inches thick protecting all vital areas, the A-9 could withstand multiple direct hits from Soviet 23mm anti-aircraft cannons. The twelve under-wing weapons pylons could carry nearly every ordnance combination in the Air Force inventory.
Unfortunately for the A-9, its competitor in the ground attack selection was the now legendary Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II. Possibly the greatest ground attack aircraft ever designed.
Only two YA-9A prototypes were built by Northrop Aviation, serial numbers 71-1367 and 71-1368. Together they completed 123 flights, totaling 146.0 flight hours during the ground attack aircraft selection. After the decision, the U. S. Air Force had neither use nor interest in either of the two YA-9As; they were transferred to the NASA Dryden Research Center before being completely retired from service on April 2, 1973.
Both YA-9A's still exist today. March Field Air Museum's 71-1368 is on display, its sister ship is at Edwards AFB. The March Field Air Museum received its YA-9A in 1981 as a loan from the US Air Force.
Below is an additional listing of specifications:
Military Specifications For the A-9A Prototype
Manufacturer: Northrop Aviation
Country: United States
Branch of Service: United States Air Force
Designation: A-9
Variant: A
Aircraft Type: Attack Bomber (light)
Aircraft Type Made: 2 (s/n 71-1367 and s/n 71-1368)
Configuration: Single place, High Wing, Single Conventional Tail
Number of Power plants: 2
Power plant Types: Two Lycoming YF102LD100 Turbofan Engines
Thrust (Each Engine); 7500 lbs
Engine Height - Aft CL: 77.0 inches
Gearbox: Two - each with hydraulic pump, generator and engine start turbine
Engine CL Distance from Fuselage CL: 47.0 inches
Landing Gear: Tricycle gear - single wheel, each with direct acting oleo shock struts.
Nose Gear Steering: 30 degrees
Nose Gear Tire Size: 18x6. 5-8 12-ply rating
Nose Landing Gear Axle to Main Landing Gear Axle: 224.4 inches
Main Gear Tire Size: 32 x 8. 8-16 Type VII 24-ply rating
Main Landing Gear Span (Tire CL): 122.5 inches
Length (Less Boom): 642.0 inches
Overall Height: 203.0 inches
Horizontal Stabilizer Height & Root: 123.5 inches
Wing Height at CL: 83.0 inches
Fuselage Height (Ground to Bottom of Fuselage): 30.0 inches
Tail Height (ground to bottom of tail): 60.0 inches
Wing Span: 696.0 inches
Horizontal Tail Span: 326.95 inches
Aircraft Weights Prototype 1 Prototype 2
Design Gross Weight: 28,075 28,575
Gross Weight (maximum alternate): 41,795 41,795
Useful Load: 19,219 (Max) 18,719 (Max)
Weight Empty (dry, no liquids or guns) 20,254 20,754
Weight Empty (operable condition) 22,576 23,076
Center of Gravity Fus Sta %MAC Waterline
At Design Weight 382.5 32.6 108.5
Most Forward (gear up) 380.6 31.0 109.0
Most Aft (gear down) 389.1 38.0 106.5
Most Abrupt CG 382.5 32.6 108.5
Shift (gear up to to to to
gear down) 382.4 32.5 109.2
Wing Area (Total): 580 sq ft
Sweepback (at 25% chord): 3 degrees, 12 minutes
Incidence: 00.00 degrees
Dihedral: 00.00 degrees
Vertical Tail
Exposed Area: 98 sq feet
Sweepback (at 25% chord): 30 degrees, 29 minutes
Horizontal Tail
Flap Total Area (Fowler area): 88 sq feet
Flap Travel: 45 degrees
Aileron Area (each, aft of hinge): 22.7 sq feet
Aileron Travel: 30 degrees (up and down)
Speed Brake (split ailerons) area
Total (aft of hinge): 102 sq feet
Speed Brake Travel: 57 degrees up,
63 degrees down
Lift Dumper (upper flap surface)
Area Total: 98 sq feet Lift Dumper Travel: 60 degrees (up)
Elevation Area (aft of hinge - 70%): 42 sq feet
Elevation Travel: 25 degrees up,
15 degrees down
Rudder Area (aft of hinge): 31 sq feet
Rudder Travel: 30 degrees right to left
Fuel
Fuel Tanks Configuration: Internal - 5 each wing
Fuel Volume
Weight (Lb) Liquid Measure (Gal)
Total Capacity: 9750 1500
Left Wing 4875 750
Right Wing 4875 750
Pylons (2)-Total 3900 600
-Each 1950 300
NOTE
Pylon tank fuel feed is not available on the prototype aircraft.
Tanks can be installed (on pylons 4 and 7) for aerodynamic Tests only.
Weight (Lb) Liquid Measure (Gal)
Usable Fuel-Total 9074 1396
Basic Mission Fuel
(3 tanks each wing) 5368 866
Auxiliary Power Unit
(APU) fuel (estimated
allocation) 100 15.4
Armament
Automatic Gun (1), Six Barrel,
Fuselage Mounted, Model M-61A1
Total Capacity: 635 rounds
Rate of Fire: 4,000 rounds/minute
Bursts Shots: 60
Overall Weight-Loaded: 1,065 lb
-Empty: 708 lb
Gun & Feed Drive System: Hydraulic
Overall Gun Width: 22 inches
Overall Gun Height: 45 inches
Overall Gun Length: 72 inches
Radio Frequency Channels: 126+
