X-29A The Experimental Aircraft The X-29A The Experimental Aircraft is a USAF/NASA technology demonstrator built to investigate the aerodynamic advantages of the forward-swept wing concept. Built upon the body of a modified F-5E Tiger II with a single F404-GE-400 engine, forward-mounted canard wings, and redesigned air intakes, the X-29 logged a total of 422 flights between models 1 and 2 and managed to achieve a maximum angle of attack of 67 degrees. It has the ability to reach a maximum speed of Mach 1.6. Without advanced composites, lightweight airframe made of aluminum and titanium, and fly-by-wire controls, none of the plane’s accomplishments would have been possible as the aircraft is inherently unstable and the FSW adheres to stresses far greater than that of a conventional swept back wing planform. The program was conducted between 1984 and 1992, and has been attributed by western sources as console to the design of the Russian-made Su-47 Berkut.
The X-29 was not the first FSW, the first was made in 1944 by Junkers, called the Junkers Ju-287.
The X-29 was not the first FSW, the first was made in 1944 by Junkers, called the Junkers Ju-287.
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