Forum: Technology

So what exactly are the problems with the switchblade design? Could it actually be pulled off? And would a switch blade wing actually out perform most jets?

Here is the concept fighter that the game Ace Combat designed based off of the switchblade design: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-02#X-02_Wyvern

http://www.area51zone.com/aircraft/switchblade.shtml.

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Elite 1K Joined: May 26, 2005 - 08:39 PM Posts: 1496

Weight, weight, weight.

Forward swept wings try to twist up from the tips, this torsion increases as airspeed increases. The wings have to be made much heavier per unit of lift than with a rear swept wing. Add the weight of a joint system that would have to be massive to withstand the torsional forces and it becomes even more impractical.

then y not use lighter metals? Could the switchblade happen in the future if metals become lighter?

Elite 1K Joined: May 26, 2005 - 08:39 PM Posts: 1496

thunder85 wrote:

then y not use lighter metals? Could the switchblade happen in the future if metals become lighter?

Because you could use those lighter metals to make an even better conventional winged fighter. The problem is the relative penalty you end up paying, not some finite number that we just haven't reached yet.

Who knows, never say never and all that. Some of the things they are doing with composites these days are pretty incredible, but you'd still have the weight and complexity of the hinge to deal with. Bottom line, at this point it just isn't practical.

Guysmiley wrote:

Weight, weight, weight.

And DESIGN, DESIGN, DESIGN. While conceptual designs such as that one in Ace Combat game might look cool in a game, or on paper, or on a computer screen, doesn't necessarily mean it'll really fly. Or well.

I know that...but then you have jets that no one knows exactly how they fly with what they look like. Concept jets are exactly that...concepts.

I say that it could be done. If not for fighters then for smaller aircraft....

Well Northrup-Grumman has a patent on the idea. And with Grummans experience with the variable sweep wing F-14 Tomcat and the forward swept wing X-29 I believe its possible.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Switchblade

Forward Swept Wings have an inherent structural disadvantage. When a conventional swept wing flexes under load, the AoA at the tip decreases, decreasing the load on the wing and un-flexing it. When a forward swept wing flexes under load, the AoA at the tip increases, causing the wing to flex further, further increasing the AoA at the tip, forcing the wing to flex even further, and so on until the wing fails.

Yes, but modern composite techniques allow for aeroelastic tailering to compensate for that effect with very little weight gain.

I guess I didn't get the memo. This is what I thought the "Switchblade" was:

http://www.f-111.net/t_no_F_files/70-2396-a.jpg