During WWII, Messerschmitt and Blohm + Voss studied the variable-geometry oblique wing as a solution for high-speed jet aircraft, respectively as the Messerschmitt P.1109 and Blohm & Voss P 202. From 1979 to 1982, NASA successfully flew the piloted AD-1 demonstrator aircraft which validated the concept.
The program aimed at producing a technology demonstrator aircraft to explore the various challenges which the radical design entails. The proposed aircraft would be a purely flying wing (an aircraft with no other auxiliary surfaces such as tails, canards or a fuselage) where the wing is swept with one side of the aircraft forward, and one backwards in an asymmetric fashion.[3] This aircraft configuration is believed to give it a combination of high speed, long range and long endurance.[4] The program entailed two phases. Phase I explored the theory and result in a conceptual design, while Phase II would have resulted in the design, manufacture and flight test of an aircraft. The outcome of the program would have resulted in data which could then be used when considering future military aircraft designs.
Flight of the Switchblade was scheduled for 2020 with its 61-meter long oblique wing perpendicular to its engines like a typical aircraft. As the aircraft increased speed, the wing begins to pivot, so that when it breaks the sound barrier, its wing has swiveled 60 degrees, with one wingtip pointing forward and the other backward. The change in aerodynamics and the general structure would have made the aircraft very difficult to control for a human being. The plane was to be fully controlled by an on-board computer controlling flight parameters. Following Phase I the aircraft concept was cancelled in 2008.[1]
northrop, grumman, switchblade, this, article, about, proposed, production, loitering, munition, aerovironment, switchblade, proposed, variable, sweep, oblique, wing, unmanned, aerial, vehicle, studied, northrop, grumman, united, states, switchbladeswitchblade. This article is about a proposed UAV For the production loitering munition UAV see AeroVironment Switchblade The Northrop Grumman Switchblade was a proposed variable sweep oblique wing unmanned aerial vehicle studied by Northrop Grumman for the United States SwitchbladeSwitchblade in oblique positionRole oblique flying wing UAVNational origin United StatesManufacturer Northrop GrummanSwitchblade in conventional position The programme was cancelled in 2008 without any aircraft having flown 1 Contents 1 History 2 Specifications 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditDuring WWII Messerschmitt and Blohm Voss studied the variable geometry oblique wing as a solution for high speed jet aircraft respectively as the Messerschmitt P 1109 and Blohm amp Voss P 202 From 1979 to 1982 NASA successfully flew the piloted AD 1 demonstrator aircraft which validated the concept The United States Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA subsequently awarded Northrop Grumman a US 10 3 million contract for risk reduction and preliminary planning for an oblique flying wing demonstrator 2 The program aimed at producing a technology demonstrator aircraft to explore the various challenges which the radical design entails The proposed aircraft would be a purely flying wing an aircraft with no other auxiliary surfaces such as tails canards or a fuselage where the wing is swept with one side of the aircraft forward and one backwards in an asymmetric fashion 3 This aircraft configuration is believed to give it a combination of high speed long range and long endurance 4 The program entailed two phases Phase I explored the theory and result in a conceptual design while Phase II would have resulted in the design manufacture and flight test of an aircraft The outcome of the program would have resulted in data which could then be used when considering future military aircraft designs Flight of the Switchblade was scheduled for 2020 with its 61 meter long oblique wing perpendicular to its engines like a typical aircraft As the aircraft increased speed the wing begins to pivot so that when it breaks the sound barrier its wing has swiveled 60 degrees with one wingtip pointing forward and the other backward The change in aerodynamics and the general structure would have made the aircraft very difficult to control for a human being The plane was to be fully controlled by an on board computer controlling flight parameters Following Phase I the aircraft concept was cancelled in 2008 1 Specifications EditGeneral characteristics Wingspan 200 ft 2 in 61 m Performance Maximum speed Mach 2 Range 5 000 nmi 5 800 mi 9 300 km Service ceiling 60 000 ft 18 000 m See also EditHistory of unmanned aerial vehicles Robert T Jones Unmanned combat aerial vehicleReferences Edit a b Wired com DARPA kills Switchblade G Warwick Flight International Num 5029 Vol 169 Pg 20 Oblique Flying Wing Archived 2006 04 21 at the Wayback Machine Oblique Flying Wing Supersonic Aerodynamics Archived 2006 05 14 at the Wayback Machine Rose Bill 2010 Secret Projects Flying Wings and Tailless Aircraft Hinckley England Midland PublishingExternal links EditPopular Science Switchblade DARPA project information Info on the NASA and DARPA oblique wing research programs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Northrop Grumman Switchblade amp oldid 1102065127, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
