famous military aircraft cancellations of the cold warfamous military aircraft cancellations of the...
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Project Terminated: Famous Military Aircraft Cancellations
of the Cold War
Burt Dicht
Disclaimer
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The material represented in this presentation is derived the book Project Terminated by Erik Simonsen and from the experiences and knowledge of Burt Dicht. This presentation is not be used for any commercial purposes. This presentation is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only
Aircraft Legacies
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“Which aircraft did you work on mom/dad?”
Only A Few Make It
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• Since the inception of flight aircraft designers have proposed thousands of aircraft concepts
• Only a small percentage make it off the drawing board (computer screen) and are actually developed into prototypes
• And an even smaller number make it to production
Project Terminated
• Aviation historians like to ask questions about the aircraft that never made it all the way – What were the issues surrounding their cancellations?
– Were they technically sound designs?
– What role did politics play?
– Were there other external forces involved that were beyond the control of the designers and the company?
• This presentation will attempt to answer those questions by highlighting several famous aircraft that were cancelled and featured in a recent book, Project Terminated by Erik Simonsen
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Northrop YB-49 Flying Wing
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Jack Northrop
• Self-taught aerodynamicist
• In 1923 draftsman for Douglas Aircraft
– Designed fuel tanks for “Round the World Cruisers”
• In 1927 joined Lockheed
– Helped design the Vega
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• In 1929 created Northrop Aircraft first in association with Boeing, than Douglas
• In 1940 formed an independent Northrop Aircraft in Hawthorne, CA
Experimenting With Flying Wings
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Northrop experimented with improving aerodynamic performance . . . By creating a clean all wing airplane
N-1M Flying Jeep Wing (1939)
X-4 Bantam
(Tailless Experimental -1946)
N-9M Flying Wing (1942)
1/3 scale prototype
proposed flying wing
Benefits of a Flying Wing
• Low-Drag and High-Lift – transport a payload 25% faster and further than conventional design
• Simplicity of fabrication – lower costs
• More uniform distribution of weight – simple structural design
• Ease of loading and unloading – payload placed in span-wise compartments
• Smaller profile target
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The XB-35
• Origins in 1941 – what if England fell . . . Loss of operating bases
• Needed a bomber that could carry a payload of 10,000 lbs. for 10,000 miles
• Won a contract to develop 2 aircraft powered by 4 pusher counter-rotating engines
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• Work started in 1943 and first flight 25 June 1946
• With jet age advancing, Northrop recommended a switch to 8 Allison J35 turbo-jet engines
• Three XB-35s flew before the conversion was made
• Aircraft plagued by engine problems during the test phase
• Had some stability and flight control issues
The YB-49 – Technology
• YB-49 made it’s first flight out of Hawthorne Air Field on 21 October 1947
• YB-49 converted from a structure designed for piston engines
– Coupled with stability problems and increased speed made for a difficult flight test program
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• Honeywell developed a yaw stabilization system that improved the stability
– Still impacted its effectiveness as a bomber
• Testing proved out the YB-49’s speed, range and that it was hard to pick-up on radar
• 5 June 1948 a YB-49 crashes killing a crew of 5 (Glenn Edwards)
• Air Force decides to purchase 30 RB-49As as flying wing reconnaissance aircraft
Cancellation
• On 9 Feb 1949 a YB-49A flew 2,258 miles non-stop from Muroc AFB (now EAFB) to Andrews AFB, Maryland in 4 hours and 20 minutes (511 MPH average speed)
• President Truman toured the aircraft and suggested it be flown down Pennsylvania Ave. for all to see
• On 28 October 1949 the USAF cancels the program and ordered all of the XB-35s and YB-49s scrapped
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• How did the flying wing go from presidential praise to cancellation in just 8 months?
Cancellation Theory
• Air Force Secretary Stuart Symington pushing for aircraft company consolidation
• Wanted Northrop to merge with Convair
• Northrop refused the merger because the conditions were unfavorable
• Was that enough to spur the cancellation?
• Why were all of the existing flying wings scrapped?
• Jack Northrop remained silent at the time because he didn’t want to jeopardize future contracts
• In 1979, Northrop said in an interview that he had been in meetings with Symington and the CEO of Convair and he was under enormous pressure to merge . . . He refused and several days later the flying wing was cancelled
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Legacy
• The Flying Wings were ahead of their time, before the advent of digital flight control systems
• But it is possible had they be allowed to continue, great advances might have been made in aerodynamics
• And technology did catch up and in an unexpected technical advance, the flying wing paved the way for stealth technology
• Its legacy lived on with the B-2 stealth bomber, a true flying wing
• And today, Boeing and other aircraft companies are exploring the use of flying wings in commercial aircraft
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YB-49 – B-2 Comparison
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Designation YB-49 B-2
Manufacturer Northrop Northrop Grumman
Service Year 1947 1997
Length 52.49 ft. 69 ft.
Width 171.92 ft. 172.01 ft.
Height 20.34 ft. 16.99 ft.
Takeoff Weight 194,007 lbs. 336,503 lbs.
Range 9,992 miles 7,248 miles
Max Speed 493 mph 569 mph
Power-plant 8 x Allison / General Electric J35-A-5 turbojets, 4,000 lbs. each.
4 x General Electric F118-GE-110 turbofans, 17,300 lbs. each
Flying Wing Drops A-Bomb on Martians
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The bomb was dropped from a flying wing aircraft
From the film “War of the Worlds” (Paramount Pictures – 1953)
North American Aviation
XB-70 Valkyrie
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North America Aviation – Advances in High Speed Flight
• On 1 June 1957, NAA awarded a contract to develop Weapon System 202A, which would later be called the F-108
• The F-108 was to be a sleek interceptor, designed to cruise at Mach 3 at altitudes above 75,000 feet and reach up to 100,000 feet
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• At the time NAA was also working on the X-15 Rocket Plane, designed to fly at Mach 6 up to 300,000 feet
• NAA was at the pinnacle of aerospace technology development at the time
The Mach 3 Bomber
• General Curtis LeMay, the SAC Commander wanted a nuclear powered bomber - 1955
• That proved to be impractical from a technology standpoint, but paved the way for a high-speed, high altitude bomber
• NAA was awarded the contract to develop Weapon System 110A, later called the XB-70 Valkyrie on 23 December 1957
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• Conceived as a nuclear-armed deep-penetration strategic bomber, the Valkyrie was a large six-engine aircraft able to fly Mach 3+ at an altitude of 70,000+ feet
• It was designed to avoid interceptors, the only effective anti-bomber weapon at the time.
XB-70 Compression Lift
• Compression Lift used the shockwave generated off the nose or other sharp points on the aircraft as a source of high-pressure air
• By carefully positioning the wing in relation to the shock, the shock's high pressure could be captured on the bottom of the wing and generate additional lift
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• To take maximum advantage of this effect, they redesigned the underside of the aircraft to feature a large triangular intake area far forward of the engines, better positioning the shock in relation to the wing
• Folding wing-tips were added to trap the shock wave under the wing
• Compression Lift improved the lift to drag ratio by 30%
Technology
• Cruising at Mach 3+ required great advances in technology
• The aircraft was designed out of a new stainless steel honeycomb and titanium structure to withstand the 650 degree temperatures produced from the aerodynamic friction
• Specially developed ejection capsules to ensure the crew would survive (zero to 90,000 feet and 100 to 2100 mph)
• Variable geometry inlets to manage the shock waves in the ducts and to position the shock waves created at supersonic speed to enter the engines at subsonic speeds
• Fuel capacity was 47,000 gallons and used a special JP-6 Kerosene blend
• Six Pack – used 6 General Electric YJ93-GE-3 Turbo-jet afterburning engines
– Designed for maximum performance at Mach 3 at 65,000 feet
– 30,000 lbs of thrust – but true number was classified
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Politics versus Technology
• B-70 program under development as change from Eisenhower to Kennedy Administration
• Robert McNamara becomes Secretary of Defense (Ran Ford Motor Company, but had no experience with aerospace)
– Had concern over the costs and viability of long range bombers
– In a short time he was making highly technical and complex national security decisions by himself with little input
• McNamara reduced number of prototypes to be built to 3 (Only two were built) . . . And he downgraded program - no operational B-70s were to be tested
– Prototypes flown with on 2 crew members, no offensive or defensive systems
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U-2 Impact
• On 1 May 1960, a CIA U-2 Reconnaissance aircraft piloted by Francis Gary Powers was shot down over the Soviet Union
• The U-2 was a subsonic high altitude aircraft operating at 70,000 feet
• The Soviets used a SA-2 Surface-to-Air Missile
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• The shoot down of the U-2 would accelerate the demise of the B-70
• By some, high altitude penetration of Soviet airspace was deemed vulnerable because of this one event – The Soviets fired 14 missiles, plus they knew the basic flight plan
• The SR-71 (Mach 3+, 80,000 feet+) had more than 800 missiles fired at it and none was ever lost to hostile fire
Cancellation
• The first XB-70 flew on 21 Sept 1964 and the second on 17 July 1965
• By the end of 1965, both aircraft had flown sustained Mach 3 speeds
• McNamara favored ICBM development, was never a fan of strategic bombers and in may cases misspoke about capabilities of the B-70
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• The second XB-70 was lost in a tragic accident with an NF-104 in 1966
• By that point the program was cancelled
• The remaining XB-70 was turned over to NASA to conduct research on the SST . . . It was retired in 1969 and given to the Air Force Museum
Specifications
Span: 105 ft. Length: 185 ft. 10 in. without boom; 192 ft. 2 in. with boom Height: 30 ft. 9 in. Weight: 534,700 lbs. loaded Armament: None Engines: Six General Electric YJ-93s of 30,000 lbs. thrust each (with afterburner) Maximum speed: 2,056 mph (Mach 3.1) at 73,000 ft. Cruising speed: 2,000 mph (Mach 3.0) at 72,000 ft. Range: 4,288 miles Service ceiling: 77,350 ft.
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Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar
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The Concept
• December 1957 – Air Force invited proposals to create a military spaceplane . . . This was not publicized
• Dyna-Soar = Dynamic and Soaring
– Utilize centrifugal force for orbital speed and soaring and aerodynamic lift generated by its delta wing form
– Followed a skip-gliding concept first theorized by Eugen Sanger in 1933
• Boeing selected prime contractor on the Spaceplane and Martin prime contractor on the Titan Launch Vehicle
– November 1959
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The Mission
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• The X-20’s high speed and extreme altitude gave it enormous flexibility for missions anywhere in the world
• Launched on a conventional Titan III rocket, it would skim the atmosphere and land on a runway as a glider
The Vehicle
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• The vehicle concept represented a significant variation from the capsule designs under development by NASA
• Constructed of a high nickel alloy type steel (Rene 41), its heat shield was made of Molybdenum
• It had a 72.5 degree wing sweep, was 35 feet long with a wing span of 20.8 feet
• In 1962, 6 test pilots assigned, 2 from NASA and 4 from USAF
• Crew of one
The Vehicle (2)
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• A single pilot sat at the front, with an equipment bay situated behind
• The equipment bay contained data-collection equipment, weapons, reconnaissance equipment, or (in the X-20X "shuttle space vehicle") a four-person mid-deck.
• A transition-stage rocket engine, located behind the equipment bay, would maneuver the craft in orbit or fire during launch as part of an abort sequence
• This trans-stage would be jettisoned before descent into the atmosphere
• While falling through the atmosphere an opaque heat shield would protect the window at the front of the craft
• This heat shield would then be jettisoned after aero braking so the pilot could see, and safely land
Technologies
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• Retractable skids instead of landing gear
• Fly-by wire control systems and a side-stick controller
• Heat-sink reusable structure for thermal protection
• Reaction control system for the vacuum of space
• Martin Trans-Stage Rocket (upper stage of Titan III) with 72,000 lbs. of thrust
From Mock-up to Launch
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• Full scale engineering mockup completed 22 Sept. 1961
• Program received an excellent government review
• Operational capability was far in advance of NASA’s Mercury program
• First piloted flight planned for 1966
• Prototype was 50% completed when Def. Sec. McNamara cancelled the program in Dec. 1963 . . . No viable military mission
• About $400 Million (1960 dollars) invested
Artist's impression of the X-20 on landing approach at EAFB
Legacy
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• Had the X-20 gone into operation in the 1960s, it would have advanced the US presence in space and provided an enormous capability with great advances in space technology
• While it never flew, the technologies explored and developed contributed to the space shuttle program
Northrop F-20A Tigershark
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The Concept
• Develop an advanced lightweight fighter that could be exported to friendly nations
• Under the Military Assistance Program (MAP) Northrop had produced more than 2300 F-5s (F-5A Freedom Fighter and F-5E Tiger II) and sold them to more than 30 countries
• The F-5 was a lightweight, highly capable and easy to maintain twin-engine fighter
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US Export Policy: A Change In Direction
• Carter Administration in 1977 alters foreign military sales – placing rigid checks on high tech military exports – F-14s sold to Shah of Iran fall into enemy
hands
• Only sell our most advanced technology to our “best friends”
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• Carter FX Policy . . . Develop and sell less sophisticated aircraft to our allies – Less expensive and simpler than US first-line fighters
– Intermediate class between an F-5E and an F-16
– Developed by defense contractors with no government funds
F-5E Tiger IIs from USAF Aggressor Squadron
Industry Response and Interest
• Northrop
– Extensively modify the F-5E Tiger II Fighter
– Advanced avionics and a new engine
– Lightweight, Maneuverable and Reliable
– First called the F-5X but became the F-5G
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• General Dynamics
– In the F-16, replace the P&W F100 engine with the GE-J79 engine
• In 1978, Taiwan (Republic of China) interested in purchasing 160 F-5Gs
– Carter Administration vetoes sale
• Allies question performance of downgraded F-16 and recognized F-5G as a capable fighter . . . But will USAF by the F-5G?
A New Administration and a Change in Policy
• Reagan Administration: – 180 degree shift from Carter
Policy – F-16As become widely available
for foreign military sales – The need for the FX evaporates
and General Dynamics stops plans for F-16/79
– The F-5G is now in competition with the F-16
– Perception that F-5G was a simple F-5E upgrade . . . It was not
– Northrop asks US government for a designation change to F-20 and it was approved in 1982
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F-20 Technology Upgrades
• 9G Structure
• LEX (Leading Edge Extension) • Enlarged wing with maneuvering flaps • Panoramic Canopy • Zero-Zero Ejection Seat • F-404-GE-100 Engine (18K lbs thrust) • Multi-mode Coherent Radar • Advanced Digital Avionics • Glass Cockpit – HUD (Head-up Display) with two
Multi-Function Displays • HOSAT – Hands on Stick and Throttle • OBOGS (On Board Oxygen Generator System) • Multi-Role (Air-to-Air, Air-to-Ground and Air-to-Sea
Capability)
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F-20 Specifications
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• Crew: 1 pilot
• Length: 47 ft 4 in
• Wingspan: 27 ft 11.9 in
• Height: 13 ft 10 in
• Wing area: 201 ft²
• Empty weight: 13,150 lb
• Max. takeoff weight: 27,500 lb
• Power plant: 1 × General Electric F404-GE-100 turbofan, 18,000 lb
• Maximum speed: Mach 2
• Combat radius: 300 nmi (345 nmi with 2 × 330 US gal drop tanks)
• Ferry range: 1,490 nmi with 3 × 330 US gal drop tanks
• Service ceiling: 55,000 ft
• Rate of climb: 52,800 ft/min
• Wing loading: 81.0 lb/ft²
• Thrust/weight: 1.1
Trying to Find a Buyer
• No support from the Reagan Administration
• Not in service in US arsenal
– Foreign countries did not want to be first buyer
• Wing area (201 sq. ft.) was too small
• Final efforts to be used by USAF and USN for dissimilar air training or by Air National Guard rejected
• F-20s flew more than 1300 sorties and exceeded test parameters, but with no sales Northrop cancels program in 1986 after $1.2 Billion invested
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Burt at EAFB in 1984 for an F-20 demo flight
Lessons
• Aviation author Steve Pace wrote of the F-20 as "one of the best fighters that never went into production.”
• The F-20 was an extremely capable, lightweight and highly reliable fighter that would have been a good solution for many countries
• But after the F-20 experience aerospace companies became cautious about directly investing in new designs without an end game
• On the plus side, Northrop’s investment created a dynamic pool of early career engineers that went on to design another best fighter that never went into production . . . The YF-23A Advanced Tactical Fighter
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Conceptual drawing of USAF, Swiss Air Force and ROKAF F-20s
For More Information: Project Terminated
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By Erik Simonsen, Crecy Publishing (March 15, 2013)
• Northrop YB-49 Flying Wing
• Avro CF-105 Arrow
• NAA F-108 Rapier Mach 3 Interceptor
• Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar Spaceplane
• Lockheed F-12B Interceptor
• British Aerospace TSR 2
• North American XB-70 Valkyrie
• Rockwell International B-1A and B-1B
• Rockwell International XFV-12A
• Northrop F-20 Tigershark
Where are They Now?
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• Northrop N1-M Jeep Flying Wing – Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (NASM),
Chantilly, Virginia (Dulles Airport)
• Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar Mock-up – Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering, Purdue
University
• Northrop F-20 Tigershark – California Science Center, Los Angeles
• North American Aviation XB-70 – National Museum of the US Air Force,
Dayton, Ohio
Questions
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