Aug 132008
 

Found in the Boeing archive was this lone drawing of a saucer-shaped AEW plane, basically an early and obviously highly integrated AWACS-type radar aircraft. Little other data was attached to this… just the drawing. Even the date is hard to make out, though it kinda vaguely sorta looks like “1-24-48.” I’m very uncertain about the “48,” though.
Engines were two “Allison 5006-14” driving contra-rotating props serving as ducted fans. I don’t know anything about those engines.

I’ll also mention that there is nothign on the drawing that actually says “Boeing,” or in fact gives any indication of company at all. And now that I am separated from my archive and thus cannot back up my notion, I seem to recall having seen the “PD III-2” style of notation before…. on Convair drawings. Take it for what it’s worth.

aew1.jpg

aew2.jpg

 Posted by at 6:41 pm

  2 Responses to “Boeing “Flying Saucer” AEW plane”

  1. That is one weird-looking aircraft. It sort of resembles the Avro Project Y in basic layout.
    If I’m reading the drawing correctly, is that a three-sided antenna inside of it?

  2. Yes.

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