McDonnell Douglas X-36
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(July 2010) |
| X-36 | |
|---|---|
| |
| X-36 in flight | |
| Role | Research aircraft |
| Manufacturer | McDonnell Douglas/Boeing |
| First flight | 17 May 1997 |
| Status | Retired |
| Number built | 2[1] |
TheMcDonnell Douglas(laterBoeing)X-36Tailless Fighter Agility Research Aircraftwas an American stealthy subscaleprototypejetdesigned to fly without the traditionalempennagefound on most aircraft. This configuration was designed to reduce weight, drag andradar cross section,and increase range, maneuverability and survivability.[2]
Design and development[edit]
The X-36 was built to 28% scale of a possible fighter aircraft and was controlled by apilotin a ground-based virtualcockpitwith a view provided by avideo cameramounted in thecanopyof the aircraft.
For control, acanardforward of the wing was used as well assplit aileronsand an advancedthrust vectoringnozzlefor directional control. The X-36 was unstable in bothpitch and yawaxes, so an advanced digitalfly-by-wirecontrol system was used to provide stability.
First flown on 17 May 1997, it made 31 successful research flights. It handled very well, and the program is reported to have met or exceeded all project goals. McDonnell Douglas merged withBoeingin August 1997 while the test program was in progress; the aircraft is sometimes referred to as the Boeing X-36.
The X-36 possessed high maneuverability that would be ideal for use as a fighter. Despite its potential suitability, and highly successful test program, there have been no reports regarding further development of the X-36 or any derived design as of 2017.
Preservation[edit]
- The first X-36 is at theNational Museum of the United States Air ForceatWright-Patterson Air Force BasenearDayton, Ohio.It arrived on July 16, 2003, the same day as theBoeing Bird of Prey[3]and is displayed in the Museum's Research & Development Gallery.[4]
- The second X-36 is displayed outside the Air Force Test Flight Center Museum atEdwards Air Force BaseinCalifornia.
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X-36 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force -
-
Specifications (X-36)[edit]
Data fromJane's All the World's Aircraft 1997-98,[5]Designation Systems,[6]American X-Vehicles[7]
General characteristics
- Length:18 ft 2.5 in (5.550 m) including pitot boom
- Wingspan:10 ft 5 in (3.18 m)
- Height:3 ft 1.25 in (0.9462 m)
- Empty weight:1,090 lb (494 kg)
- Max takeoff weight:1,270 lb (576 kg)
- Fuel capacity:180 lb (82 kg)
- Powerplant:1 ×Williams F112turbofanengine, 700 lbf (3.1 kN) thrust
Performance
- Maximum speed:160 kn (180 mph, 300 km/h) initial flight test limit
- 243 kn (280 mph; 450 km/h) later limit
- Approach speed:110 kn (127 mph; 204 km/h)
- Service ceiling:20,500 ft (6,200 m)
- g limits:+5
- Thrust/weight:0.56
Gallery[edit]
-
The aircraft is hoisted following its arrival at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center in July 1996 -
Remote cockpit -
A technician at Dryden prepares the X-36 for its first flight -
First flight 17 May 1997 -
In flight June 1997
See also[edit]
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References[edit]
- ^Jenkins, Landis, and Miller 2003. p. 46.
- ^"X-36 - Military Aircraft".fas.org.Retrieved2 May2020.
- ^"Boeing Bird of Prey and X-36 Inducted into Air Force Museum".Boeing, July 16, 2003.
- ^"NASA/Boeing X-36".National Museum of the United States Air Force™.Retrieved2 May2020.
- ^Jackson, Paul, ed. (1997).Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1997-98(88th ed.). Coulsdon, Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group. p. 677.ISBN9780710615404.
- ^"Boeing X-36".designation-systems.net.Retrieved2 May2020.
- ^Jenkins, Dennis R.; Landis, Tony; Miller, Jay (June 2003)."AMERICAN X-VEHICLES Centennial of Flight Edition SP-2003-4531 An Inventory—X-1 to X-50"(PDF).NASA.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2020-04-25.Retrieved2 May2020.
External links[edit]
