Northrop Alpha/Beta/Delta/Gamma production (by constructor's numbers)

Stargazer · 10 October 2012

AVION FLYING WING:

no name or model number (X216H): twin-boom, twin-tail prototype by Avion with 90hp Menasco A-4 pusher and retractable gear; later modified with fixed gear, 95hp Cirrus engine

Stargazer · 10 October 2012

NORTHROP ALPHA:

1

Alpha 1 X-2W prototype, using Avion wing design

Alpha 2 destroyed 27 Mar 30 on second flight when it lost an aileron and crashed

2

Alpha 2 NR127W

Alpha 4 X127W mail and cargo plane with NACA cowling, fully faired gear, expanded electrical system; tested by USAAC prior to purchase of Y1C-19's

Alpha 4A further conversion with de-icing equipment on wings and tails; crashed 11 Dec 33

3

Alpha 2 NS1, NR/NC11Y used as an official government plane at some point (NS1)

Alpha 4A NC11Y further conversion with de-icing equipment on wings and tails; to National Air and Space Museum in 1975

4

Alpha 2 TWA NC999Y for TWA

Alpha 3 combination mail and passenger craft with electrical system, landing lights; to NACA in early 1931

Alpha 4 mail and cargo plane with NACA cowling, fully faired gear, expanded electrical system; crashed 15 Nov 34

Alpha 4A further conversion with de-icing equipment on wings and tails; to Chino Air Museum (as N990NC?)

5

Alpha 2 NC933Y

Alpha 3 combination mail and passenger craft with electrical system, landing lights

Alpha 4 to China in 1935

6

Alpha 2 NC942Y to TWA

Alpha 3 combination mail and passenger craft with electrical system, landing lights

Alpha 4 crashed 14 Jan 42

7

Alpha 2 NC947Y

Alpha 3 combination mail and passenger craft with electrical system, landing lights

Alpha 4 mail and cargo plane with NACA cowling, fully faired gear, expanded electrical system

Alpha 4A further conversion with de-icing equipment on wings and tails; crashed 11 Dec 33

8

Alpha 2 NC961Y

Alpha 3 combination mail and passenger craft with electrical system, landing lights

Alpha 4A further conversion with de-icing equipment on wings and tails; to China in 1935

9

Alpha 2 NC966Y to TWA?

Alpha 3 combination mail and passenger craft with electrical system, landing lights

Alpha 4 mail and cargo plane with NACA cowling, fully faired gear, expanded electrical system; crashed 21 Mar 32

10

Alpha 2 USAAC 30-516 USAAC YC-19; sent in 1939 to training schools as subjects for maintenance and repair classes

11

Alpha 2 USAAC 30-517 USAAC Y1C-19; sent in 1939 to training schools as subjects for maintenance and repair classes

12

Alpha 2 USAAC 30-518 USAAC Y1C-19; crashed between Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia on Sunday, March 19(20?), 1933, killing pilot and two passengers

13

Alpha 3 NC985Y combination mail and passenger craft with electrical system, landing lights

Alpha 4 mail and cargo plane with NACA cowling, fully faired gear, expanded electrical system

Alpha 4A further conversion with de-icing equipment on wings and tails; crashed 26 Feb 33

14

Alpha 3 NC986Y combination mail and passenger craft with electrical system, landing lights

Alpha 4 mail and cargo plane with NACA cowling, fully faired gear, expanded electrical system

Alpha 4A crashed 22 Sep 35, salvaged

15

Alpha 3 NC992Y combination mail and passenger craft with electrical system, landing lights

Alpha 4 mail and cargo plane with NACA cowling, fully faired gear, expanded electrical system

Alpha 4A further conversion with de-icing equipment on wings and tails; crashed 10 Jan 33

16

Alpha 3 NC993Y combination mail and passenger craft with electrical system, landing lights; sometimes described as an Alpha 2

Alpha 4 mail and cargo plane with NACA cowling, fully faired gear, expanded electrical system; crashed 3 Jul 32

17

Alpha 3 NC994Y combination mail and passenger craft with electrical system, landing lights

Alpha 4 mail and cargo plane with NACA cowling, fully faired gear, expanded electrical system

Alpha 4A further conversion with de-icing equipment on wings and tails; crashed 31 Jan 35

Stargazer · 10 October 2012

NORTHROP BETA:

1

Beta 3 demonstrator X963Y

all-metal; fully-panted wheels; crashed 12 Aug 31

2

Beta 3A? / 3D airline

X12214

Stearman-Northrop version with 300hp P&W Wasp; to TWA; crashed 5 May 34

Stargazer · 10 October 2012

NORTHROP GAMMA, DELTA, etc.:

1

Gamma 2A racer X/NR12265

1932 record breaking aircraft customized for Frank Hawks, dubbed "Texaco 11" or "Sky Chief"; west-east nonstop LA-NYC record;

- crashed 4 Sep 36

2

Gamma 2B record NR12269

"Polar Star", with high rudder and "park bench" ailerons, for the Lincoln Ellsworth 1934-35 polar flights; flew across Antarctica

- modified with lower rudder and flush-types ailerons

museum

- to Smithsonian Institute in 1936

3

Delta 1A prototype X12292

prototype Delta; full cabin version of Gamma with enclosed pilot seat forward;
- crashed 13 Nov 33

4

Delta 1B

prototype	X236Y	prototype 9-place version, like Delta 1A with 650hp P&W R-1690-C Hornet

Mexico	X-ABED	- exported to Mexico - crashed 5 May 34
5

Gamma 2C

prototype	X12291	prototype Gamma 2-C built in May 1933

USAAC	34-27	- evaluated by USAAC as YA-13 in August 1933

		- rebuilt as XA-16; eventually surveyed; often mistaken with c/n 188 (Gamma 5B)
6

— US Navy 9400

all-metal USN fighter design with spatted gear developed from Alpha and Gamma forUSN as XFT-1
- later modified as XFT-2 and repowered with 700 R-1535
- destroyed in a spin-induced crash on 21 Jul 36 (or 37?); basic design carried forward into 3A and Vought V-143

7

Delta 1C

demonstrator	unregistered	export version of Delta 1A with 700hp P&W R-1690-T1 Hornet

Sweden	SE-ADI	- to Sweden

Spain	EC-AGC	- to Spanish Civil War
8

Gamma 2D TWA NC13757(#16)

- sold to TWA in 1934 for use as single seat mail plane

USAAF NC13757?

- ended up with the Army Corps of Engineers, and supposedly crashed in Africa shortly thereafter, with no recovery

9

Gamma 2D TWA

NC13758	- sold to TWA in 1934 for use as single seat mail plane

	- then licensed to test wing/propeller de-icers, radio, gasoline analyzers, GE turbo-supercharger

USAAF

42-94140	- to USAAF as UC-100; surveyed 11 Sep 43
10

Gamma 2D TWA

NC13759	- sold to TWA in 1934 for use as single seat mail plane

XA-ABJ	- used in coastal defense patrols for the Spanish Republican air force
11

Gamma 2G racer NC13761

- two-place MacRobertson racer for Jacqueline Cochran with Curtiss Conqueror; crashed on delivery flight;

racer NX13761

- rebuilt with 660hp P&W R-1535-SA Wasp; rented to Howard Hughes; - repowered with 850hp Wright Cyclone R-1820G; - used by Hughes to set new transcontinental speed record of 9h:26m on 13 Jan 36 - crashed 10 Jul 36
12	Gamma 2D2 = Gamma 2H

racer

NX2111	- purchased Dec.34 for Marron Guggenheim for Russell Thaw for competitions

?

NR2111	- experimental license in Jan. for testing Sperry automatic pilot; take-off accident on 9 Dec 35

private

	- wreckage sold to Jacqueline Cochran as possible parts plane, but instead rebuilt at factory;

private

NC2111	- 2-535 approval in 1937, sold to McFadden Publications;

USAAF

NC2111?	- Army Engineers 1942; path unknown
13

Gamma 2E UK

K5053	2-place attack bomber, similar to Gamma 2C with 750hp Wright SR-1820 - sold to the UK for use by the Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment; path unknown
14

Gamma 2E China export to China

15

Gamma 2ED China export to China

16

Gamma 2ED China export to China

17

Gamma 2EC China export to China

18

Gamma 2EC China export to China

19

Gamma 2EC China export to China

20

Gamma 2EC China export to China

21

Gamma 2EC China export to China

22

Gamma 2EC China export to China

23

Gamma 2ED China export to China

24

Gamma 2ED China export to China

25

Gamma 2ED China export to China

26

Gamma 2ED China export to China

27

Gamma 2ED China export to China

28

Delta 1D private NC13777 Delta 1A with 710hp or 735hp Wright Cyclone; to Richfield Oil Co.; presumed still active

29	Delta 1E (= Gamma 1E?)	prototype	NR13755	2-place, tandem cockpit experimental ship with forward cargo hold and two tandem cockpits aft; 660hp P&W Hornet T2D1
		Sweden	SE-ADW	- exported to Sweden where it was used as a night mail plane; - crashed 6 Jul 34
30

Gamma 2ED China export to China

31

Gamma 2ED China export to China

32

Gamma 2ED China export to China

33

Gamma 2ED China export to China

34

Gamma 2ED China export to China

35

Gamma 2ED China export to China

36

Gamma 2ED China export to China

37

Gamma 2ED China export to China

38

Delta 1D-1

private

NC14241

"Delta Executive" custom model

Spain	- to Spanish Civil War in 1936
39

Delta 1D-2

private

NC14242

"Delta Executive" custom model

Spain	- to Spanish Civil War in 1936
40

Delta 1D-3

private

NC14265

"Delta Executive" custom model; Delta 1D repowered with 650hp P&W Hornet S4

PanAm	- for PanAm South American service - destroyed in hangar fire on 1 Apr 38
41

Delta 1D-4

private

NC14266

"Delta Executive" custom model

Spain	- to Spanish Civil War in 1936; reportedly dismantled
42

Delta 1D-5

private	NC14267	"Delta Executive" custom model

private	VH-ADR	- to Australia in 1939

RAAF	A61-1	- to RAAF
43

Gamma 2 US Navy 9745 USN XBT-1; dive-bomber, grandparent of Douglas Dauntless; crashed on landing at North Field, San Diego 11 Nov 37, both crew unhurt

44	Gamma 3A (or Gamma 2F?)

USAAC XP-948

fighter development of Gamma
- evaluated by USAAC as XP-948;
- disappeared on a demonstration flight, never to be seen again;
- design rights sold to Vought Corp. and built as prototype fighter V-141 in 1936

45

Gamma 2EC China export to China

46

Gamma 2E China export to China

47

Gamma 2ED-C demonstrator NC/X13760

- used by Frank Hawks on a South American sales tour
- returned to America

- eventually sold to a trading company that in turn disassembled the aircraft and shipped it to Russia in 1935

48