Grumman X-29

Posted by Flucloxacillin25pc@reddit | WeirdWings | View on Reddit | 32 comments

The X-29 was designed to test a then-unique combination of aircraft technologies, including a forward-swept wing, canard control surfaces, composite materials and inherent instability, the last of which required computer-managed, fly-by-wire controls. NASA, the USAF and DARPA jointly funded two airframes, the first of which flew in 1984, with the two X-29s flying regular research missions until 1991.

[-]

Phantom05110@reddit

Interestingly, the latter chapters of the Area 88 Manga from 1979-1986 (which never made it stateside) featured the X-29 as one of the MC's aircraft.

[-]

tobascodagama@reddit

By far my favourite dogfighting plane in Jane's ATF.

[-]

noneckjoe123@reddit

It ushered in a new wave of super-maneuvering, forward swept winged jet fighters that continue to dominate the skies…..oh wait. Right, they didn’t do anything with it.

[-]

Azairn@reddit

It was very common to build aircraft for research purpose only. At that time computers were not able to properly simulate how a specific airframe would work, so they just built them to see.

Even today we still build some airframe for research purpose, look at the X59. Hundreds of millions of dollars only to try to break the sound barrier in silence. If it's successfull the technology might be used in future aircraft, but if it's not....well we know it was not the way to do it.

[-]

tobascodagama@reddit

This is also why they have all the streamers on the fuselage and control surfaces in the first pic. It's a way to visualise airflow during maneuvers in a way that wasn't possible with either simulations or wind tunnels at the time.

[-]

LongMelford@reddit

Except learn from it. It was a research craft.

[-]

inigo_montonya@reddit

Is it based on the f20?

[-]

Straight_Loan8271@reddit

no, the x29 was built by grumman prior to the merger. the fuselage from the cockpit forwards was taken from an F-5 though so they are distantly related

[-]

410er0r@reddit

What is the smoke coming off the nose?

[-]

Fearless_Turnip_9686@reddit

Condensation. Humidity in the air condenses in low pressures areas

[-]

showtimebabies@reddit

I had this micromachine

[-]

Doufnuget@reddit

Love the highly technical stall indication devices, aka piece of string and tape.

[-]

Virtual_Area8230@reddit

Tomcat had such a device for yaw indication for the pilot. You can see it at the top, aft edge of the radome.

[-]

ncc81701@reddit

You’d be surprised at how common a piece of tape and string still is as an AoA/AoS indicator.

[-]

WarthogOsl@reddit

F-14's had them, as do most sailplanes.

[-]

ArchitectofExperienc@reddit

Its the perfect indicator, you don't have to calibrate it, it doesn't run on power, it weighs almost nothing, and if it breaks you're only out ~0.15¢. Hell, you can fix it with tape and string

[-]

mz_groups@reddit

Anyone know what the object near the leading edge at the root of the vertical stabilizer is?

[-]

ContributionDapper84@reddit

Spin chute, someone said

[-]

mz_groups@reddit

That's the thing on the trailing edge. I'm talking about the thing on the leading edge. Here's an example of a spin parachute that was used in YF-22 high angle of attack testing.