OT: F-16XL #2 NASA research aircraft photo I've just found on SPACE.COM

[Shaman]

I guess I've never seen this aircraft before, but I'm not sure - maybe seen it long time ago in aviation related press. Anyway found it quite interesting. So check out the weirdo below :wacko:

 

Here's the photo of NASA's F-16XL #2 research aircraft photo I've just found on SPACE.COM

 

This in-flight view of NASA's two-seat F-16XL #2 research aircraft clearly shows that the left and right wings are definitely not mirror images of each other. The unique aircraft flew 45 research missions over a 13-month period in the SLFC program which ended November of 1996. The project demonstrated that laminar or smooth airflow could be achieved over a major portion of a wing at supersonic speeds by use of a suction system. - description also from space.com

 

edit-

So I went to NASA site, and found more photos of this strange craft: http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/F-16XL2/Small/index.html

[britgliderpilot]

NASA gets some truly awesome toys. Most of them aren't built specifically for them, but after other places are done with them they make big puppy-dog eyes . . . . .

 

 

It's also the only place in the world that would consider adding Nitrous to a Blackbird.

 

I'm genuinely not kidding, there is a real NASA research document detailing exactly what you'd have to do and when would be best to use it . . . . . just the idea of max-powering the fastest air-breathing aircraft ever built, jesus christ . . . . . . . I want a job at that place!

 

 

edit - for differences between left and right wings, check out the Tomcat NASA used to deliberately feck up the wing sweeps . . . . one wing at 45 degrees, one wing at 72 degrees.

Flew just fine

[HungaroJET]

Well...well...well

 

 

 

It's an old project...but i believe THE XL is the most wonderful/sexy :) version of all Falcons (mayB most of all aircrafts) :D

 

I'm dreamin' about it...

...somewhen in a SIM.

 

check it :

http://www.f-16.net/f-16_versions_article1.html

[leafer]

NASA gets some truly awesome toys. Most of them aren't built specifically for them, but after other places are done with them they make big puppy-dog eyes . . . . .

 

Well what if the guy NASA sent to make big puupy-dog eyes is um...Chinese? :D

 

Ok ok...I'm sorry. I'm Asian (the brown kind) so I can make fun of other Asians like that.

[chrno120]

reminds me a bit or that Gradius game, maybe some future UCAVs would look like this.

[graywo1fg]

Hmmm i wonder if that is one of NASA's Vector thrust technology aircraft.:P

[brewber19]

Is it just me, or is the plan-form of that A/C similar to the Saab Draken?

 

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/row/draken.htm

 

I always loved the shape of Saab Draken and Viggen....and the Viggens can take-off on a six-pence.(or is that a quarter for other nations?)

 

Anyone got a photo of the Tomcat with odd wings? I aint seen that.

[Cobra360]

It's in one of the later Fighter Fling vids, either 03 or 04.

[VMFA117_Poko]

I saw this beauty couple years ago (in "AIRFORCE Monthly" magazine). It's a quite old project. Have any one seen F-16 paintless but with some kind of black tape on its surface witch keeps it stealth? If I won't forget I will scan that picture tomorrow and send You all in here.

[Shaman]

Anyone got a photo of the Tomcat with odd wings? I aint seen that.

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/F-14/HTML/index.html

You mean this one?

[Pilotasso]

I guess I've never seen this aircraft before, but I'm not sure - maybe seen it long time ago in aviation related press. Anyway found it quite interesting. So check out the weirdo below :wacko:

 

Here's the photo of NASA's F-16XL #2 research aircraft photo I've just found on SPACE.COM

 

This in-flight view of NASA's two-seat F-16XL #2 research aircraft clearly shows that the left and right wings are definitely not mirror images of each other. The unique aircraft flew 45 research missions over a 13-month period in the SLFC program which ended November of 1996. The project demonstrated that laminar or smooth airflow could be achieved over a major portion of a wing at supersonic speeds by use of a suction system. - description also from space.com

 

edit-

So I went to NASA site, and found more photos of this strange craft: http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/F-16XL2/Small/index.html

 

 

I have had a discussion about this plane back at UNI and as far as I could tell, its not suction holes but rader simple micro holes with no air suction being made inside the wing. The efect etended is the same as gulf balls. I dont know if you ever looked at a golf ball closely, but its full of small cirlular indentations. These holes are not there to make the ball look pretty. Its intended to be the same size as boundary layer separation vortexes. So each hole "swalows" a vortex to nulify it, turning the airflow arround the ball much more regular to reduce drag. The purpose of achieving this is range of flight and in planes it would reduce fuel comsumption and potentiate its range up to 30% better.

[britgliderpilot]

Anyone got a photo of the Tomcat with odd wings? I aint seen that.

 

. . . . and I can't find it again. This is going to annoy me now . . . . am SURE I've seen it . . .

[Pilotasso]

you mean supercritical wings?

[britgliderpilot]

you mean supercritical wings?

 

No, I mean I'm certain I've seen a photo of a VG aircraft (thought it was a Tomcat) with one wing right back and one wing right forward.

 

 

Even if it was photoshopped I should have been able to find the pic again . . . . .

[Shaman]

Even if it was photoshopped I should have been able to find the pic again . . . . .

Not only one x-plane has been built with this concept - yes, the wing can even change its geometry during the flight

[britgliderpilot]

Not only one x-plane has been built with this concept - yes, the wing can even change its geometry during the flight

 

Seen that one as well, sure this was a conventional VG aircraft with only one wing swept . . . .

[britgliderpilot]

Bingolicious, the F-14 Association comes through once again . . . . .

 

 

 

One of these was in response to concerns raised by the US Navy regarding asymmetrical wing sweep. No. 3 is best remembered for photo shown at right. A series of flight tests were conducted from December 19, 1985 to February 28, 1986. Grumman's Chief Test Pilot, Chuck Sewell, conducted several trials with the right wing locked in the forward position of 20 degrees, and positioned the left wing at 35, 50, 60 and 68 degrees of sweep in flight. 60 degrees was determined as the maximum for landing. In the event of an operational in-flight malfunction, Sewell found the aircraft to be acceptable for carrier landings in this configuration.

[Shaman]

I have had a discussion about this plane back at UNI and as far as I could tell, its not suction holes but rader simple micro holes with no air suction being made inside the wing.

Well in this case they've drilled with laser a lot of tiny holes (holes, not depressions) inside the wing and installed a suction system.

 

The experimental wing panel, made mostly of titanium, is perforated with about 10 million nearly microscopic laser-cut holes. An on-board suction system draws off, through the tiny holes, the turbulent layer of air flowing over the wing's surface. Eliminating the layer of rough air creates a laminar flow condition that reduces aerodynamic drag and contributes to fuel savings. - from NASA site

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/F-16XL2/Medium/EC95-43286-1.jpg

 

The efect etended is the same as gulf balls. I dont know if you ever looked at a golf ball closely, but its full of small cirlular indentations. These holes are not there to make the ball look pretty. Its intended to be the same size as boundary layer separation vortexes. So each hole "swalows" a vortex to nulify it, turning the airflow arround the ball much more regular to reduce drag. The purpose of achieving this is range of flight and in planes it would reduce fuel comsumption and potentiate its range up to 30% better.

Never played golf, but it happend that I've seen golf balls and even have one from my lovely sister. What's really interesting that future commercial planes will benefit a lot from research that have been done on dolphins' and sharks' skin features. These skins are naturally adapted to low-drag flow.

[Shaman]

Bingolicious, the F-14 Association comes through once again . . . . .

 

Hehehe.. that's awesome. He's like waving, hello! :)

[britgliderpilot]

Hehehe.. that's awesome. He's like waving, hello! :)

 

Yup! :D

 

 

It wasn't flown by NASA, though, so I lose a point. Bugger.

[brewber19]

Hi Brit,

 

Magic, thanks for finding that, I havent seen it before. Man, strange isnt it...I wouldn't expect it to have been particularly stable.

[britgliderpilot]

Hi Brit,

 

Magic, thanks for finding that, I havent seen it before. Man, strange isnt it...I wouldn't expect it to have been particularly stable.

 

Stable, perhaps not - but if you've got the FCS (or just a bright pilot to handle it) then you should be able to get away with it.

 

Remember you've got your primary roll control on the tailplane on the Tomcat, so as long as you've got sufficient control surface deflection to counter any rolling moment, you should be able to hold it steady at a constant speed.

 

 

Adverse yaw I'd have to think about harder, and it's been a long day :P

[STAR_80]

Lets not forget this lovely!!