Grumman X-29A

National Museum of the US Air Force

 

The X-29 was built to explore state-of-the-art technologies in aircraft design. The most easily identified of these, the forward-swept wing (FSW), was combined with advanced materials, a forward mounted elevator (canard) and an electrical flight control system. The purpose of this combination of features was to test how well all these elements worked together before they were used in future aircraft.

 

Both Germany and the U.S. experimented with FSW aircraft during World War Il but did not use them operationally. One problem with the new design was that the wings could not be made rigid enough to keep them from bending dangerously at higher speeds. In the 1970s, however, composite materials became available, and wing structures could be built that were both lightweight and very rigid.

 

Grumman began building the first of two X-29As in 1982. The program was administered by the U.S. Air Force and jointly funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Air Force, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

 

The first X-29A (S/N 82-003)- the one displayed here- made its initial flight on December 14, 1984 at Edwards AFB, California. On December 13, 1985, during its 26th flight, this aircraft became the world's first FSW aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in level flight. After successfully completing the test program, the X-29A was retired to the Museum in late 1994. The second X-29A made its first flight on May 23, 1989 and continued to perform test flights well into the 1990s.

 

SPECIFICATIONS

Span: 27 ft. 2 in.

Length: 48 ft. 1 in.

Height: 14 ft. 3 in.

Weight: 17,303 Ibs, maximum

Engine: General Electric F404 turbofan engine of 16,000 Ibs. thrust

Armament: None

Crew: One

 

PERFORMANCE

Max. speed: 1,200 mph / 1,043 knots

Cruising speed: 460 mph / 400 knots (approximately)

Max, endurance: 60 min.

Ceiling: 50,000 ft.

Done