AMP – 72023 – Northrop M2 F2/F3

Description:

Unassembled plastic model kit in 1/72 scale of a U.S. Northrop M2 F2/F3 experimental aircraft.

The Northrop M2-F2 and M2-F3 were experimental lifting body aircraft developed in the 1960s and 1970s as part of NASA’s efforts to study wingless aircraft that could glide and land after atmospheric re-entry. The concept of a lifting body relied on the fuselage itself generating lift, rather than conventional wings, making it an important precursor to later spacecraft like the Space Shuttle.

The M2-F2 was an improved version of the original M2-F1, a lightweight wooden prototype. Built by Northrop, the M2-F2 featured a metal fuselage and was designed for high-speed glide tests after being released from a B-52 bomber. However, during one of its test flights in 1967, the aircraft crashed due to pilot-induced oscillations, causing severe damage and serious injuries to the pilot, Bruce Peterson. This crash was famously depicted in the opening sequence of the television show The Six Million Dollar Man.

Following the crash, the aircraft was rebuilt and upgraded into the M2-F3, which featured an additional third vertical stabilizer to improve stability and control. The M2-F3 resumed flight tests in 1970, achieving speeds over 1,000 km/h (650 mph) and altitudes of over 20 km (65,000 ft). These tests helped prove that lifting body designs were viable for controlled gliding and landing, influencing the development of the Space Shuttle and other re-entry vehicles.

Despite their experimental nature, the M2-F2 and M2-F3 played a crucial role in aerospace research, demonstrating the feasibility of unpowered landings from space and paving the way for modern spaceflight technologies.

Original AMP kit tooled in 2025. Include a 3D printed seat, PE (photo-etched) sheet and decal sheet for two markings, the two prototypes.