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Aviation / Aerospace

Rockwell-MBB X-31 (EFM)


Thrust-Vectoring Experimental Aircraft [ 1990 ]



Two Rockwell-MBB X-31 aircraft were completed to test the nuances of vectored thrust - the series flew into 2003.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 01/20/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]
The X-31 experimental aircraft was a joint development venture between Rockwell and Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (MBB) of Germany to test the viability of thrust-vectoring hardware and software. Two prototypes were used throughout the program's run with a first-flight recorded on October 11th, 1990. Of the pair, one crashed during a test flight (the pilot ejecting safely) while the surviving member ended its days as a showpiece at the Deutsches Museum Flugwerft Schleissheim in Germany.

Many off-the-shelf components, borrowed from designs like the F-16, F-16XL, F/A-18 Hornet and B-1 bomber, made up the actual aircraft to keep development costs down and construction times short. The result was a sleek, though largely conventional, fighter design sporting well-swept, low-mounted monoplane wings (in a canard delta configuration), a single rudder and no horizontal planes at the tail (instead nose-mounted canards took over their role). A retractable undercarriage assisted ground running. The pilot was given a commanding view over the nose thanks to an elevated seating position and tear-drop-style canopy. The fuselage appeared with rounded slab sides and a deep profile.

Power was derived from a single General Electric F404-GE-400 series turbofan engine of 16,000lb thrust output, giving the airframe a maximum speed of 900 miles per hour, a service ceiling up to 40,000 feet and a rate-of-climb nearing 43,000 feet per minute. The engine was aspirated through a rectangular intake identified under the cockpit floor aft of the nose cone. The key design element of the X-31 was its jet pipe exhaust structure which incorporated three moveable panels to direct the flow of outgoing thrust. The idea was to test high Angle-of-Attack (AoA) performance during maneuvers - in this respect, the program succeeded.

Between the two prototypes, 580 flights were completed. Prototype 1 was lost on January 19th, 1995 due to ice build-up at the pitot tube resulting in incorrect data being fed to the onboard computers. Prototype 2 flew on into 2003 before being put out to pasture.©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

Specifications



Rockwell - USA / Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (MBB) - Germany
Manufacturer(s)
Germany; United States
Operators National flag of modern Germany National flag of the United States
1990
Service Year
United States
National Origin
1
Crew
2
Units


X-PLANE
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.


43.3 ft
(13.21 meters)
Length
23.8 ft
(7.25 meters)
Width/Span
14.6 ft
(4.45 meters)
Height
11,409 lb
(5,175 kilograms)
Empty Weight
15,939 lb
(7,230 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight
+4,530 lb
(+2,055 kg)
Weight Difference


1 x General Electric F404-GE-400 afterburning turbofan engine developing 16,000lb of thrust.
Propulsion
901 mph
(1,450 kph | 783 knots)
Max Speed
40,026 ft
(12,200 m | 8 miles)
Ceiling
43,000 ft/min
(13,106 m/min)
Rate-of-Climb


MACH Regime (Sonic)
Sub
Trans
Super
Hyper
HiHyper
ReEntry
RANGES (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hi-Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: >19030


None.


X-31 - Base Series Designation; two flyable aircraft completed.


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