The X-26 Frigate is the longest-lived of the X-plane programs. The program included the X-26A Frigate sailplane and the motorized X-26B Quiet Thruster versions: QT-2, QT-2PC, and QT-2PCII. All were based on the Schweizer SGS 2-32sailplane.
X-26 Frigate
An X-26A sailplane on display at the 1984 NAS Patuxent River Air Show
The X-26A was used by the United States Navy to train test pilots in the condition of yaw/roll coupling. Since jet trainers were known to be dangerous in this condition, the X-26 was based on the Schweizer SGS 2-32 sailplane. Sailplanes react much slower and are easier to control than jet aircraft, making the X-26 a much safer training platform. Four aircraft were originally ordered. Three of the original planes crashed. The Navy purchased a replacement for each of the crashed units.
Operational history
X-26 glider circa 1983
Two Schweizer 2-32s, 67-15345 and 67-15346, from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School X-26 Program, were modified to QT-2 configuration (QT for Quiet Thruster) by the Lockheed Missiles & Space Company and civil registered as N2471W and N2472W. In 1967 the aircraft were modified by adding a Continental O-200 engine, V-Belt RPM reduction system, four-bladed Fahlin fixed pitch wooden propeller, and associated airframe upgrades.
After demonstrating quiet flight,[1] the aircraft were again modified to military QT-2PC configuration, known only as Tail Numbers "1" and "2", with avionics and camouflage for night operation. They were successfully evaluated in Southeast Asia under the Prize Crew OpEval program for covert ("stealthy") tactical airborne observation in the spring of 1968 (during Têt). The two QT-2PCs were returned to the Test Pilot School in 1969 and re-designated X-26Bs.
The #1 QT-2PC was re-designated "67-15345" and the #2 aircraft was used for spare parts. The original X-26 glider version was then designated X-26A.
Lockheed continued the covert airborne surveillance program with one Q-Star (House Test Aircraft) and eleven pre-production YO-3As.
Surviving aircraft
QT-2PC, QT-2PCII, and X-26B
QT-2PC #1 in the Soc Trang, RVN Army Airfield Hangar in 1968
Role
Experimental Covert Reconnaissance Aircraft
National origin
United States
Manufacturer
SACUSA and LMSC
Designer
2-32: Bill and Ernie Schweizer QT-2 and its variants: Stanley Hall
First flight
QT-2: July, 1967, QT-2PC: Dec, 1967
Introduction
1967
Retired
1969 as X-26B
Status
#1: Unknown. #2 Operational as a glider at Mile High Gliding
Primary user
Tri-Service (USA, USAF, USN, and USMC)
Number built
2 (QT-2 & QT-2PC/X-26B)
Developed from
SGS 2-32
Both of the aircraft from the original QT-2 / X-26B program survive today. The X-26B aircraft known as QT-2 N2471W and QT-2PC #1 is located (as of 2019) in the collection of the US Army Aviation Museum at Ft. Rucker AL. The original N number N2471W was reassigned in 2019 to another Schweizer SGS 2-32 glider, (serial #7, formerly N2758Z) owned by Mile High Gliding of Boulder Colorado.
The second X-26B aircraft known as QT-2 N2472W and QT-2PC #2 was restored to SGS 2-32 configuration and has been operated for many years (and known as "72 Whiskey") for paid scenic rides at Mile High Gliding in Boulder, Colorado.[2]
The YO-3As were tactically evaluated in Southeast Asia from mid-1969 to late 1971. They were later used by the Louisiana Dept of Wildlife & Fisheries (LDWF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in law enforcement, and by NASA for scientific applications.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Schweizer X-26 Frigate.
X-26A Frigate (Schweizer SGS 2-32) / X-26B (Lockheed) at GlobalSecurity.org
Lockheed’s Combined Sailplane & Slow-Turning Propeller at HistoryNet.com
QT-2PC PRIZE CREW
May 11, 2023
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This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia s quality standards No cleanup reason has been specified Please help improve this article if you can May 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message The X 26 Frigate is the longest lived of the X plane programs The program included the X 26A Frigate sailplane and the motorized X 26B Quiet Thruster versions QT 2 QT 2PC and QT 2PCII All were based on the Schweizer SGS 2 32 sailplane X 26 FrigateAn X 26A sailplane on display at the 1984 NAS Patuxent River Air ShowRole Research and training aircraftNational origin United StatesManufacturer SchweizerDesigner Ernie and William SchweizerFirst flight July 1967Primary user United States NavyNumber built 7 Developed from Schweizer SGS 2 32 Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Surviving aircraft 3 1 Accidents 4 Specifications X 26A Frigate 5 Specifications X 26B and QT 2PC 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksDevelopment EditThe X 26A was used by the United States Navy to train test pilots in the condition of yaw roll coupling Since jet trainers were known to be dangerous in this condition the X 26 was based on the Schweizer SGS 2 32 sailplane Sailplanes react much slower and are easier to control than jet aircraft making the X 26 a much safer training platform Four aircraft were originally ordered Three of the original planes crashed The Navy purchased a replacement for each of the crashed units Operational history Edit X 26 glider circa 1983 Two Schweizer 2 32s 67 15345 and 67 15346 from the U S Naval Test Pilot School X 26 Program were modified to QT 2 configuration QT for Quiet Thruster by the Lockheed Missiles amp Space Company and civil registered as N2471W and N2472W In 1967 the aircraft were modified by adding a Continental O 200 engine V Belt RPM reduction system four bladed Fahlin fixed pitch wooden propeller and associated airframe upgrades After demonstrating quiet flight 1 the aircraft were again modified to military QT 2PC configuration known only as Tail Numbers 1 and 2 with avionics and camouflage for night operation They were successfully evaluated in Southeast Asia under the Prize Crew OpEval program for covert stealthy tactical airborne observation in the spring of 1968 during Tet The two QT 2PCs were returned to the Test Pilot School in 1969 and re designated X 26Bs The 1 QT 2PC was re designated 67 15345 and the 2 aircraft was used for spare parts The original X 26 glider version was then designated X 26A Lockheed continued the covert airborne surveillance program with one Q Star House Test Aircraft and eleven pre production YO 3As Surviving aircraft EditQT 2PC QT 2PCII and X 26B QT 2PC 1 in the Soc Trang RVN Army Airfield Hangar in 1968Role Experimental Covert Reconnaissance AircraftNational origin United StatesManufacturer SACUSA and LMSCDesigner 2 32 Bill and Ernie SchweizerQT 2 and its variants Stanley HallFirst flight QT 2 July 1967 QT 2PC Dec 1967Introduction 1967Retired 1969 as X 26BStatus 1 Unknown 2 Operational as a glider at Mile High GlidingPrimary user Tri Service USA USAF USN and USMC Number built 2 QT 2 amp QT 2PC X 26B Developed from SGS 2 32Both of the aircraft from the original QT 2 X 26B program survive today The X 26B aircraft known as QT 2 N2471W and QT 2PC 1 is located as of 2019 in the collection of the US Army Aviation Museum at Ft Rucker AL The original N number N2471W was reassigned in 2019 to another Schweizer SGS 2 32 glider serial 7 formerly N2758Z owned by Mile High Gliding of Boulder Colorado The second X 26B aircraft known as QT 2 N2472W and QT 2PC 2 was restored to SGS 2 32 configuration and has been operated for many years and known as 72 Whiskey for paid scenic rides at Mile High Gliding in Boulder Colorado 2 The Q Star was the first aircraft to use a rotary combustion chamber Wankel engine citation needed It is currently when being returned to flight status The YO 3As were tactically evaluated in Southeast Asia from mid 1969 to late 1971 They were later used by the Louisiana Dept of Wildlife amp Fisheries LDWF and the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI in law enforcement and by NASA for scientific applications YO 3A 69 18005 is on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle Washington YO 3A 69 18006 is on display at the Pima Air and Space Tucson AZ YO 3A 69 18007 is in storage at the Western Museum of Flight in Torrance California As of 2014 YO 3A 69 18010 NASA 818 is in flyable storage at Armstrong Flight Research Center Accidents Edit U S Navy 157932 crashed March 1971 pilot killed 3 U S Navy 157933 crashed May 18 1972 pilot killed 3 Specifications X 26A Frigate EditGeneral characteristics Crew two Length 26 ft 9 in 7 92 m Wingspan 57 ft 1 5 in 17 37 m Height 9 ft 3 in 2 74 m Wing area 180 sq ft 16 7 m2 Empty weight 857 lb 389 kg Gross weight 1 430 lb 650 kg Wing aspect ratio 18Performance Maximum speed 158 mph 254 km h 137 kn Wing loading 7 9 lb sq ft 39 kg m2 Power mass 0 07 hp lb 0 12 kW kg Rate of sink 0 6 m s 120 ft min Specifications X 26B and QT 2PC EditGeneral characteristics Crew two Length 30 ft 9 in 9 33 m Wingspan 57 ft 1 5 in 17 37 m Height 9 ft 3 in 2 74 m Wing area 185 sq ft 16 7 m2 Gross weight 2 500 lb 1 134 kg Propeller Ole Fahlin four blade 8 inch chord fixed pitch 100 inch diameter Wing aspect ratio 18 Fuel Capacity 20 gallons nominal Powerplant 1 Continental O 200 horizontally opposed 4 cylinder air cooled engine 100 hp 75 kW Performance Service ceiling 13 000 ft 4 000 m Rate of climb 200 ft min 1 0 m s Power mass hp lb kW kg Flight endurance Planned 4 hours demonstrated 6 7 hours Quiet cruise speed 70 80 mphSee also EditRelated development Schweizer SGS 2 32 Lockheed YO 3 quiet surveillance aircraft Ling Temco Vought L450F turboprop record setting aircraftAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Scheibe SF25CRelated lists List of experimental aircraftNotes Edit www airfields freeman com https web archive org web 20140701093255 http www airfields freeman com CA Airfields CA SanLuisObispo html Archived from the original on 2014 07 01 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help www milehighgliding com a b US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Retrieved 2014 08 06 References EditAmerican X Vehicles pdf This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Schweizer X 26 Frigate X 26A Frigate Schweizer SGS 2 32 X 26B Lockheed at GlobalSecurity org Lockheed s Combined Sailplane amp Slow Turning Propeller at HistoryNet com QT 2PC PRIZE CREW Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Schweizer X 26 Frigate amp oldid 1125095309, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
