Posts tagged "NASA"
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Ames-Dryden AD-1 Oblique Wing The Ames-Dryden (AD)-1 was a research aircraft designed to investigate the concept of an oblique (or pivoting) wing. The oblique wing could be rotated on its center pivot so that it could be set at its most efficient angle for the speed at which the airplane was flying. The oblique wing was the brainchild of NASA aeronautical engineer Robert T. Jones, whose analytical and wind tunnel studies at the NASA Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, California, indicated that an oblique wing, supersonic transport might achieve twice the fuel economy of an aircraft sporting more conventional wings. Also called the “scissors” wing, it was an offshoot of the variable-sweep-wing concept, which was first investigated with the X-5 research airplanes during the early 1950’s. Variable-sweep wings allow an aircraft to take advantage of the lift and handling qualities of a straight wing during the comparatively slow flight of takeoffs and landings, and the reduced drag and the better efficiency of swept-back wings during high speeds and cruise speeds. Variable-sweep wings are common on many high performance aircraft, including the F-14, F-111 and B-1. The oblique wing on the AD-1 pivoted about the fuselage, remaining perpendicular to it during slow flight and swinging to angles of up to 60 degrees as aircraft speed increased. The swing wing concept was first evaluated by a small, propeller-driven, remotely-piloted research vehicle (RPRV) flown at Dryden in 1976. These early techniques for gathering data about the oblique wing aircraft were applied to the twin turbojet, piloted AD-1, which was flown from 1979 to 1982. Research pilots at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, flew the little plane a total of 79 times. Although the oblique wing is still considered a viable concept for large transports, the unpleasant flying characteristics of the AD-1 at extreme wing-sweep angles may have discouraged aircraft designers from adopting this configuration. (Text & Image via NASA)

Ames-Dryden AD-1 Oblique Wing

The Ames-Dryden (AD)-1 was a research aircraft designed to investigate the concept of an oblique (or pivoting) wing. The oblique wing could be rotated on its center pivot so that it could be set at its most efficient angle for the speed at which the airplane was flying.

The oblique wing was the brainchild of NASA aeronautical engineer Robert T. Jones, whose analytical and wind tunnel studies at the NASA Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, California, indicated that an oblique wing, supersonic transport might achieve twice the fuel economy of an aircraft sporting more conventional wings.

Also called the “scissors” wing, it was an offshoot of the variable-sweep-wing concept, which was first investigated with the X-5 research airplanes during the early 1950’s. Variable-sweep wings allow an aircraft to take advantage of the lift and handling qualities of a straight wing during the comparatively slow flight of takeoffs and landings, and the reduced drag and the better efficiency of swept-back wings during high speeds and cruise speeds. Variable-sweep wings are common on many high performance aircraft, including the F-14, F-111 and B-1.

The oblique wing on the AD-1 pivoted about the fuselage, remaining perpendicular to it during slow flight and swinging to angles of up to 60 degrees as aircraft speed increased.

The swing wing concept was first evaluated by a small, propeller-driven, remotely-piloted research vehicle (RPRV) flown at Dryden in 1976. These early techniques for gathering data about the oblique wing aircraft were applied to the twin turbojet, piloted AD-1, which was flown from 1979 to 1982.

Research pilots at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, flew the little plane a total of 79 times. Although the oblique wing is still considered a viable concept for large transports, the unpleasant flying characteristics of the AD-1 at extreme wing-sweep angles may have discouraged aircraft designers from adopting this configuration.


(Text & Image via NASA)

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B-747 in Flight During Vortex Study Two chase aircraft, a Learjet and a Cessna T-37, are shown in formation with a Boeing B-747 jetliner in this 1974 NASA Flight Research Center (FRC) photograph. The two chase aircraft were used to probe the trailing wake vortices generated by the airflow around the wings of the B-747 aircraft. The vortex trails were made visible by smoke generators mounted under the wings of the B-747 aircraft. (via NASA Dryden)

B-747 in Flight During Vortex Study

Two chase aircraft, a Learjet and a Cessna T-37, are shown in formation with a Boeing B-747 jetliner in this 1974 NASA Flight Research Center (FRC) photograph. The two chase aircraft were used to probe the trailing wake vortices generated by the airflow around the wings of the B-747 aircraft. The vortex trails were made visible by smoke generators mounted under the wings of the B-747 aircraft.

(via NASA Dryden)

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T-37 Pre-Flight Preparation on Ramp This T-37 was used by the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California as a chase aircraft for many research flights. It was also used as a probe aircraft wake vortices for studies in support of the national effort to reduce the hazards associated with the trailed wake vortices of large aircraft. The effectiveness of using selected combinations of flap and spoiler positions on large aircraft to alleviate these air disturbances was evaluated by measuring the upsets imposed on these probe aircraft as they flew behind the large aircraft. The Cessna T-37B (60-0084) arrived at the NASA Flight Research Center in August 1974. On 8 November 1982, it crashed in a spin during a proficiency flight. NASA test pilot Richard E. Gray was fatally injured (via NASA Dryden)

T-37 Pre-Flight Preparation on Ramp

This T-37 was used by the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California as a chase aircraft for many research flights. It was also used as a probe aircraft wake vortices for studies in support of the national effort to reduce the hazards associated with the trailed wake vortices of large aircraft. The effectiveness of using selected combinations of flap and spoiler positions on large aircraft to alleviate these air disturbances was evaluated by measuring the upsets imposed on these probe aircraft as they flew behind the large aircraft. The Cessna T-37B (60-0084) arrived at the NASA Flight Research Center in August 1974. On 8 November 1982, it crashed in a spin during a proficiency flight. NASA test pilot Richard E. Gray was fatally injured

(via NASA Dryden)

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