XF-109
| XF-109 | |
|---|---|
 Drawing of the Bell D188A |
|
| Type: | Project a Mach 2 VTOL - fighter |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Number of pieces: |
1 mock-up |
The USAF never officially assigned the designation XF-109 to an aircraft. Mostly, however, the Bell D188A supersonic VTOL draft is associated with it in the literature .
Overview of the F-109 assignments
X-13
In the mid-1950s, XF-109 was given in some publications as the official name for the Ryan X-13 . However, there is no indication that this experimental aircraft should ever be used as a fighter aircraft.
McDonnell F-101B
The McDonnell F-101B was temporarily unofficially designated as the F-109, with McDonnell even published a data brochure on May 12, 1955, on which the F-109 was noted as "Proposed". McDonnell's request for an award was rejected by the USAF.
Bell D188A
Usually the F-109 designation is assigned to the Bell D188A design. Although both Bell and the Air Research and Development Command applied for the YF-109 designation twice at USAF headquarters around 1958, the application was ultimately rejected. The Bell D188A was a "private venture" project of a Mach2 + VTOL fighter aircraft based on requirements issued in 1955 by the armed forces. The high- wing aircraft was to be equipped with eight General Electric J85 -GE-5 turbojets, with two engines installed horizontally in the stern and supplied with air via two short inlets. Two more J85s were installed vertically directly behind the cockpit to provide lift during the vertical take-off and landing process. They were switched off during level flight. The remaining four engines were housed in two swiveling nacelles at the wing ends. The maximum speed should be Mach 2.3, the maximum operating altitude over 20,000 meters and the weapon load 3600 kg.
The US Air Force and US Navy provided a total of US $ 17 million for project phase I, of which a full-scale mock-up was produced at a cost of 600,000 man-hours and 3500 wind tunnel hours were financed. However, no further funding took place, so the project was abandoned. The design of the D188A was later resumed by the EWR VJ 101 C.
See also
literature
- Dennis R. Jenkins, Tony R. Landis: Experimental & Prototype - US Air Force Jet Fighters. Specialty Press, 2008, ISBN 978-1-58007-111-6 , pp. 180 f.