A variable-sweep wing, colloquially known as a "swing wing", is an airplane wing, or set of wings, that may be swept back and then returned to its original straight position during flight. It allows the aircraft's shape to be modified in flight, and is therefore an example of a variable-geometry aircraft.

Why are there no more swing wing aircraft?

The swing mechanism takes up too much space inside the wing that could be used for fuel. It is difficult to position hard-points in the swinging part of the wing, affecting payload. Advances in aerodynamics and better engines mean that the drag reduction using varying the wing sweep is not so critical anymore.

Why did f14 have swing wings?

For high-speed intercept, they are swept back and they swing forward for lower speed flight. It was designed to improve on the F-4 Phantom's air combat performance in most respects. The F-14's fuselage and wings allow it to climb faster than the F-4, while the twin-tail arrangement offers better stability.

Why don t propeller planes have swept wings?

Propeller tips become supersonic way below the speed that wings start to become transonic, limiting the forward speed the propeller can operate at, so you simply can't go fast enough with a propeller to enjoy a significant benefit from wing sweep.

What is tuck under aircraft?

Mach tuck is an aerodynamic effect whereby the nose of an aircraft tends to pitch downward as the airflow around the wing reaches supersonic speeds. This diving tendency is also known as tuck under. The aircraft will first experience this effect at significantly below Mach 1.

The Swing Wing - Why the variable sweep wing was adopted - F-14 F-111 Tornado Tu-160 Mig-23

16 related questions found

Why did the x1 have straight wings?

The Bell X-1 was really designed the way it was because the designers at Bell examined a 50-caliber bullet flying at supersonic speed. And it was a very stable bullet aerodynamically speaking. ... The straight wing, we advocated that basically because of flight tests we did with a World War II fighter.

Why do commercial aircraft have swept wings?

The main reason airplanes have swept wings is to reduce turbulence. During flight, airplanes encounter turbulence from the friction created as air runs across the plane's wings. The speed at which an airplane flies will affect the amount of turbulence is encounters.

Was the F-14 a good plane?

If the mission is strictly fleet defense, the F-14 was a perfect platform. ... Indeed, the Tomcat is known to be a very fast airplane, with great sustained energy performance and, since it carried a great quantity of fuel which gave it a good endurance, the F-14 was also very good for high speed strike missions.

Does MiG 28 exist?

MiG-28: a fictional aircraft flown by the antagonist in the 1986 film Top Gun. The real aircraft used to portray the MiG-28 was a Northrop F-5.

Are there any privately owned F-14?

The plane is owned by an El Mirage aviation company. ... Keenberg said the recycling company sold the planes to another scrap yard and lost track of them after that. The producer of “JAG,” said his company went through proper military channels when it acquired the retired F-14.

Which is faster F-22 or f35?

The F-35, with its air-to-ground combat design, is not designed for breakaway speed. It has a top speed of 1.60 Mach, and less maneuverability than the F-22 in dogfight scenarios. ... However, despite the mismatch in speed, the F-35s can still hold their own against non-stealthy fighters.

Is the F-22 obsolete?

F-22 production has been stopped since 2011, meaning many of the assets allocated to building these jets have since been redistributed to other efforts or simply left to rot.

Why did the Navy get rid of the F-14?

The United States Navy retired the venerable Grumman F-14 Tomcat in 2006 after more than three decades in service. ... With the end of the Cold War and declining budgets, the Navy simply could not afford to keep the incredibly maintenance intensive and unreliable Tomcat on the carrier flight deck.

What is the deadliest fighter jet?

1. The F-22 Raptor is one mean jet fighter. The F-22 Raptor is one of the world's most advanced and capable fighter jets. It was developed and produced jointly by Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

What is the fastest US military plane?

The NASA/USAF X-15 is the fastest fighter jet ever produced. It reached record top speed of Mach 6.72 or 4,520 mph, which is more than five times the speed of sound.

Why do backwards wings exist?

A rear-swept wing has its forward-most point at the root of the ring, where it attaches to the fuselage. ... Compared to straight wings, a swept wing provides better stability and control when flying at transonic speeds where shock waves can form on the wing (even though the plane itself is not supersonic).

Why can a swept wing aircraft go faster?

In transonic flight, a swept wing allows a higher Critical Mach Number than a straight wing of similar Chord and Camber. This results in the principal advantage of wing sweep which is to delay the onset of wave drag. A swept wing is optimised for high speed flight.

What is meant by delta wing?

A delta wing is a wing shaped in the form of a triangle. It is named for its similarity in shape to the Greek uppercase letter delta (Δ). ... The delta wing form has unique aerodynamic characteristics and structural advantages.

Why is it illegal to break the sound barrier?

It's against the law. Within the United States, it is illegal to break the sound barrier. ... When you pass Mach 1, the plane travels faster than the waves itself and that move across the so-called sound barrier produces a large sound, which is the sonic boom.

Did a Spitfire break the sound barrier?

A Spitfire very nearly broke the sound barrier in 1944. In the 1930s a small number of aero-engineers recognized that the piston-engine and propeller were providing diminishing returns.

What's the fastest jet in the world?

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is the fastest jet aircraft in the world, reaching speeds of Mach 3.3--that's more than 3,500 kph (2,100 mph) and almost four times as fast as the average cruising speed of a commercial airliner.

Why do cops move aft when Mach tuck?

At transonic speeds, shockwaves form above and below the wing. These shockwaves increase pressure gradients and "concentrate" the lift towards them. With increasing Mach number, the shockwaves move aft as the aircraft "outruns" them. This means that the CoL also moves aft.

What is a Mach trim?

Mach Trim is a system that resists the nose down tendency - aka Mach tuck - of the aircraft as one Mach number increases. This is due to the so-called *center of pressure*, i.e; the point (very theoretical point) where the lift is applied to the wing, moving aft. Generally, usee on non-fbw aircraft on manual flight.