Northrop YA-9

Northrop YA-9
Description
Role	Prototype attack aircraft
Crew	one
First Flight	May 30 1972
Manufacturer	Northrop
Dimensions
Length	53 ft 6 in	16.3 m
Wingspan	57 ft	17.4 m
Height	17 ft 10 in	5.4 m
Wing area	ft²	m²
Weights
Empty	lb	kg
Loaded	lb	kg
Maximum takeoff	lb	kg
Powerplant
Engines	2x Lycoming YF102-LD-100
Thrust	7,500 lb each	33.4 kN each
Performance
Maximum speed	523 mph	837 km/h
Combat range	miles	km
Ferry range	miles	km
Service ceiling	ft	m
Rate of climb	ft/min	m/min
Wing loading	lb/ft²	kg/m²
Thrust/Weight
Power/Mass	hp/lb	kW/kg
Avionics
Avionics
Armament
Guns	20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon
Stores	18,370 lbs (8,350 kg) of bombs, rockets, missiles

The Northrop YA-9 was a prototype attack aircraft developed for the USAF, but passed over in preference for the Fairchild YA-10 that became the A-10 Thunderbolt II in service.

Both aircraft were designed in response to an air force requirement for a Close Air Support (CAS) aircraft that could operate from forward positions on a battlefield. This meant an aircraft that would need to be able to operate from relatively rough fields, carry heavy armour, and be able to loiter over target areas. Apart from aircraft themselves, the A-X programme was also developing a powerful cannon for the winning plane to carry. Eventually, this would result in the GAU-8 Avenger, but for trials, the YA-9 and YA-10 were both equipped with the smaller M61 Vulcan.

It is alleged that the YA-9 more strongly impressed the Soviets than the US Air Force, and the Sukhoi Su-25 was largely based on spy footage of this aircraft.

A fly-off of the two prototypes took place October 10 and December 9 1973, with the YA-10 declared the winner on January 18 1973. The two YA-9 prototypes were subsequently relegated to NASA for continued flight testing before being quickly retired. One is preserved at the March Field Museum at March Air Force Base, and the other at the Castle Air Museum at Atwater, California. Before going to the museums, the YA-9s' custom-built engines were removed and were later mated to a C-8 Buffalo airframe as part of the NASA-Boeing joint QSRA study into a quiet short-haul commercial aircraft.

Related content
Related Development
Similar Aircraft	Sukhoi Su-25
Designation Series	A-6 - A-7 - AV-8 - YA-9 - A-10 - A-12
Related Lists	List of military aircraft of the United States - List of attack aircraft

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