Jun 192011
Sadly, not a kit, but a wind tunnel model of the SCAT 15A configuration tested at NASA-Langley in 1963. At the time, variable geometry wings were all the rage in aeronautical design circles, but obviously they did not turn out to be as inevitable as many hoped.
5 Responses to “1/48 Scale SST Model”
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It sure looks great, doesn’t it?
Head on and from the top, you can see influence from Barnes Wallis’ “Swallow”, and this concept may have inspired the Soviet Sukhoi T-4MS’ lifting body fuselage design as well:
http://www.testpilot.ru/russia/sukhoi/t/4/ms/t4ms_e.htm
My first thought was “Gerry Anderson!’
Considering the success of variable-wing supersonic military aircraft of the era (F-14, MiG-23, F-111, etc.), I’m rather surprised that no swing-wings are even proposed these days. Did more modern advanced aerodynamics allow fixed-wing designs to match their performance gains, were the mechanics too difficult to maintain, or something else?
> Did more modern advanced aerodynamics allow fixed-wing designs to match their performance gains, were the mechanics too difficult to maintain, or something else?
Yes, yes and yes. VG costs in terms of design, manufacturing complexity, maintenance, weight, parts count, ruggedness and stealth, for benefits that just haven’t proven to be overwhelming
I know the pivoting wings on the SST’s got dropped because of how much the pivot mechanism for the large wings weighed, which cut badly into passenger capability.
The Soviets stuck with the concept though, making the spectacular (and very heavy) Tu-160 “Blackjack” bomber, which was handed to Tupolev after preliminary design work by the Myasishchev design bureau.