| M2-F3 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Lifting body technology demonstrator |
| Manufacturer | Northrop |
| Status | Donated to the Smithsonian Institution, currently on display at the National Air and Space Museum |
| Primary user | NASA |
| History | |
| First flight | 2 June 1970 |
| Retired | 20 December 1972 |
| Developed from | NASA M2-F1 Northrop M2-F2 |
The Northrop M2-F3 is a heavyweight lifting body rebuilt from the Northrop M2-F2 after it crashed at the Dryden Flight Research Center in 1967. It was modified with an additional third vertical fin - centered between the tip fins - to improve control characteristics. The "M" refers to "manned" and "F" refers to "flight" version.