Lockheed YP-80F Forward Swept Wing

[TomZ]

Lockheed YP-80F Forward Swept Wing



In 1946 the NACA decided to conduct tests with forward swept wings after studies of captured German documents on the Junkers Ju-287 bomber.
In order to have a rapid development, it was decided to make use of a standard airframe that was already in production and not to develop a whole new design. The choice was made to take a Lockheed P-80 fighter and rebuild this with the new forward swept wing.



A standard P-80C, serial 47-201 was taken from the production line and went for a significant redesign and modification. In order to preserve the centre of gravity, the wing roots had to moved back by about one meter. The new wings were approximately the same span of the original wings. The test aircraft received the designation YP-80F.



Flight tests commenced in April 1947, the aircraft painted bright orange for visibility. As with the German experiments with forward swept wings, wing warping proved to be a big problem. Stiffening the wing led to increased weight and lower performance. Flight characteristics were excellent however.



Although the tests did not lead to a production series, the lessons learned were used in the design of the Convair A-44 / B-53 medium bomber which was operated successfully in the Korean war.



Model: Airfix P-80 & wings from A-model HFB-320

TomZ

[Claes]

That's nicely done, old NACA logo and all. And good reference to the A44/B53, I didn't know about that one.

[ericr]

  

[PR19_Kit]

Magnificent! 

Love the idea, the shape AND the colour!

[Rheged]

I like it!  For those who remember the advert..........it's been TANGO'D

[Steel Penguin]

idea and shape are brill     the colour wile it works for the back story does make me rather want to 

[Vulcan7]

Great looking build & that colour!           

[Captain Canada]

Wow. That's a real beauty. Nice work.

[chrisonord]

Excellent stuff

[comrade harps]

That is a beautiful thing.