A piece of aviation history was lost yesterday as the last of four 1/3-scale prototypes built during the development of the Northrop XB-35 Flying Wing bomber, the N9MB, crashed in a prison yard in Norco, California.
Northrop N9MB Flying Wing Destroyed in Crash
Key Takeaways:
- The last surviving Northrop N9MB Flying Wing prototype, a 1/3-scale model for the XB-35 bomber, crashed in Norco, California, resulting in the loss of its pilot.
- The historic bright yellow aircraft, built in 1944 and meticulously maintained by the Planes of Fame Air Museum, was being flown in preparation for an upcoming airshow.
- The N9MB was significant for its role in testing the XB-35's design, which later influenced the B-2 Stealth Bomber, and was a unique attraction at airshows.
- The cause of the accident is currently undetermined, and the museum expressed deep sadness over the pilot's death.
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