Lockheed TBCC demonstrator

 aircraft, drawings, projects, spacecraft
Jan 052009
 

A 40-foot long unmanned aircraft meant to test and demontrate the TBCC (Turbine-Based Combined Cycle) engine concept. Two existing J85 turbojet engines would be integrated with a ramjet to provide power for the 10,000-lb gross weight vehicle. The turbojets would power the vehicle to Mach 3, where the ramjet would take over. Top speed is not given in the avialable documentation. The TBCC engine was hoped to power the GTX SSTO concept.

Dates from 2000-2001.

The configuration is very similar to NASP-derived operational vehicles designed at General Dynamics-Fort Worth, so that would be my guess as to where this concept originated.

lockmarttbccdemo.gif

 Posted by at 1:28 pm

  One Response to “Lockheed TBCC demonstrator”

  1. Randy Campbell says:
    January 8, 2009 at 3:42 pm

    Scott;

    Wasn’t the “GTX” the RBCC (Rocket Based Combined Cycle) demonstrator? I seem to recall seeing this design along with what eventually became the “GTX/Trailblazer” in a NASA paper on Combined Cycle Test vehicle proposals.

    Randy

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