FASTER THAN SOUND (NEWS FROM ABROAD)
Abstract
Discussion considered the U. S. and British plans for supersonic transport aircraft. Demands for 1500-mph aircraft do not appear to warrant expenditures for planning and construction, so aircraft with flight speeds of over 1800 mph are consequently being considered. The delta wing and long narrow fuselage appear to provide excellent balancing at supersonic speeds. Convair, Douglas, Handley Page Co, and Rolls Royce Co. have designs for such supersonic planes. Vertical take-off and landing by rotating the engines is part of the project for this ramjet aircraft, according to structural designs by the Bristol Co. British Vickers Armstrongs Co. announced plans for an aircraft with a wing of variable geometry-variable sweepback, called Swallow. Wings and engines both would rotate to provide better aircraft form for each flight condition and to eliminate ordinary control systems. Problems of range and fuel consumption are also considered.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 13, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0258834
Entities
People
- M. Yurkevich
Organizations
- National Air and Space Intelligence Center