| Northrop YA-9
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| Description
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| Role | Prototype attack aircraft
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| Crew | one
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| First Flight | May 30 1972
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| Manufacturer | Northrop
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| Dimensions
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| Length | 53 ft 6 in | 16.3 m
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| Wingspan | 57 ft | 17.4 m
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| Height | 17 ft 10 in | 5.4 m
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| Wing area | ft² | m²
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| Weights
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| Empty | lb | kg
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| Loaded | lb | kg
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| Maximum takeoff | lb | kg
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| Powerplant
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| Engines | 2x Lycoming YF102-LD-100
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| Thrust | 7,500 lbf each | 33.4 kN each
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| Performance
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| Maximum speed | 523 mph | 837 km/h
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| Combat range | miles | km
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| Ferry range | miles | km
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| Service ceiling | ft | m
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| Rate of climb | ft/min | m/min
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| Wing loading | lb/ft² | kg/m²
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| Thrust/Weight |
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| Power/Mass | hp/lb | kW/kg
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| Avionics
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| Avionics |
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| Armament
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| Guns | 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon
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| Stores | 18,370 lb (8,350 kg) of bombs, rockets, missiles
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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. It should however be noted that given the same design role, two different aircraft designs can end up looking superficially similar.
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. When retired, 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.
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