lesser known/experimental aircraft

[kool kitty89]

I think he just meant the definition of the American "X-plane" was being skewed in some instances, not what the thread is for...

The X-3 also strongly resembled the later F-104 having strong ties to it.

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by kool kitty89

The X-3 also strongly resembled the later F-104 having strong ties to it.

Some of the data acquired by the X-3 was obviously incorporated into the F-104 but aside from that they were two vastly different aircraft. The designe of the F-104 was presented to the USAF in November of 1952, the X-3 first flight was a month later.

[Velius]

Here are a few more experimental aircraft with swept-forward wings....

The first one is the Su-47 which is/was largely influenced by the X-29.

The Second one is the Ju-287- one of the earlier attempts at the swept forward wing concept (the first if I am not mistaken).

The third is one of the lesser known aircraft- the Tsybin LL-3. It's the Russian equivalent to the Bell X-1 used to research transonic flight. After about 100 flights with 4 different pilots it obtained a top speed of Mach .97.

[kool kitty89]

The He 162D was also to use a foreward swept wing.

I think the S-32/S-37/Su-47 was a contemporary, but totaly independant design from the X-29, abeit much newer.


Foreward swept wings (and the knolege of its advantages) are nothing new, it's just that modern composite materials are making them more viable.

[MONDARIZ]

The Tsybin LL-3 is pretty cool....

I have never seen it before. Thats so interesting about Soviet cold war experimental design, you never know what you are going to find.

I just found a page about it:
Tsybin Ts-1

A shame it didn't make it to mach 1.

[Graeme]

Originally Posted by Velius

It's the Russian equivalent to the Bell X-1

That was probably the job of the rocket powered Biesnovat 5-2, Velius. Designed to explore supersonic flight it was very similar looking to the BELL X-1 except from the swept wings...



Samolyot 5

[smg]

how bout this one the s-32

[kool kitty89]

That became the S-37 and Su-47

[Flyboy2]

Alright, thanks for the info, but I'm still wondering why the US dosen't invest in the forward swept design. It sure looks pretty good to me.

[MONDARIZ]

Originally Posted by Flyboy2

Alright, thanks for the info, but I'm still wondering why the US dosen't invest in the forward swept design. It sure looks pretty good to me.

Unfortunatly coolness is not always the deciding factor in aircraft design

I guess (stressing that its a guess) that whatever benefit was gained from forward swept wings, did not match the price of constructing these.

Advances in thrust vectoring technology has produced the same maneuverability for aircraft with conventional wing design.

Likewise air combat tactics is no longer focused on short range engagement, where agility is of great importance, but instead focuses on medium range missile engagements.

[Flyboy2]

Hmm.... indeed.
Still looks pretty cool though

[Velius]

Here are a few more that I think are lesser known...

First is the Bereznyak-Isayev BI- the Russian version of the Me-163. Short endurance (2 minutes at full power!) prevented it from being further developed.

Next is the Ambrosini SS.4. An Italian canard fighter prototype- the first aircraft of the war suggesting the use of canards. It had potential, but the project was canceled by authorities after a single accident unrelated to it's design.

Next is the Westland Pterodactyl, a tail-less aircraft aiming for "stall-proof" characteristics. Only one survives in the London Science Museum.

Last one of a familiar design is the Su-9 (later known as the Su-11). Basically a Russian built copy of a captured Me-262 (however the wings had no sweepback). It was proposed to go into production as a Russian fighter, but Stalin cancelled the program in favor of the Yak-15. As a side note, the Su-9 had one of the first ejection seats used in the USSR.

[Old Wizard]

Originally Posted by Flyboy2

Alright, thanks for the info, but I'm still wondering why the US dosen't invest in the forward swept design. It sure looks pretty good to me.

They did test the Rockwell X-29


Quick Aviation Links - Grumman X-29

[kool kitty89]

He meant in actual military aircraft applying the data/experienced gained from the X-29.