Lockheed Martin X-44 MANTA

Conceptual aircraft design by Lockheed Martin
X-44 MANTA
Artist's concept of the X-44 in flight
Role Experimental tailless aircraft
Type of aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Lockheed Martin
Status Proposed design, canceled
Developed from Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor

The Lockheed Martin X-44 MANTA (Multi-Axis No-Tail Aircraft) was an American conceptual aircraft design by Lockheed Martin that has been studied by NASA and the U.S. Air Force. It was intended to test the feasibility of full yaw, pitch and roll authority without tailplanes (horizontal or vertical). Attitude control relies purely on 3D thrust vectoring.[1] The aircraft design was derived from the F-22 Raptor and featured a stretched delta wing without tail surfaces.[1]

History

NASA and the U.S. Air Force had begun preliminary work on the aircraft by May 1999. Plans called for MANTA technologies to be demonstrated on either an F-22 Raptor or F-15. An X-44 prototype would begin test flights by fiscal year 2007. NASA planners stated that developing technologies for the X-44 could have application to the F-22 and Joint Strike Fighter programs and commercial supersonic ventures.[2]

Initial feasibility work was funded by government and two contractors.[2] NASA approved the program to start in June 1999, giving the aircraft the designation "X-44A".[3]

Funding for the X-44 program was ended in 2000.[4]

Design and development

Planning documents called for an aircraft that "leapfrogs state-of-the-art." The X-44 was designed by Lockheed Martin to demonstrate the feasibility of an aircraft controlled by vectored thrust alone. The X-44 design had a reduced radar signature (due to lack of tail and vertical stabilizers) and was made more efficient by eliminating the tail and rudder surfaces, and instead using thrust vectors to provide yaw, pitch and roll control.[1]

The X-44 MANTA design was based on the F-22. The engine and fuselage would be carried over to the X-44. Major differences included the delta wing shape and tail-less design. Plans called for the elimination of flight control surfaces. Yaw, pitch and roll authority would be accomplished through thrust-vectoring, possibly by modifying the extant 2-D vectoring nozzles of the F-22. These changes would in effect be combining the control and propulsion systems.[2] The X-44 MANTA would have a greater fuel capacity than the F-22, due to its larger delta wing design. The MANTA was designed to have reduced mechanical complexity, increased fuel efficiency and greater agility.[1]

See also

Related development

  • Lockheed YF-22 – Prototype fighter aircraft for the US Air Force Advanced Tactical Fighter program
  • Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor – American stealth air superiority fighter
  • Lockheed Martin FB-22 – Proposed bomber aircraft for the US Air Force derived from the F-22 Raptor

References

  1. ^ a b c d Jenkins, Dennis R.; Tony Landis; Jay Miller (June 2003). "SP-2003-4531: American X-Vehicles: An Inventory, X-1 to X-50" (PDF). Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 31. NASA. p. 54. Archived from the original on 2020-04-25. Retrieved 2007-10-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ^ a b c Dupont, Daniel G. (1999). "X-44 MANTA promises to 'leapfrog state-of-the-art': NASA, USAF, F-22 Makers Begin 'Revolutionary' Tailless Aircraft Studies". Inside the Pentagon. Inside Washington Publishers. pp. 1–17. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  3. ^ Dupont, Daniel G. (1999). "F-22A deemed an X-series aerospace vehicle: AIR FORCE, NASA APPROVE START OF X-44A 'TAILLESS' AIRCRAFT STUDIES". Inside the Air Force. Inside Washington Publishers. pp. 1–21. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  4. ^ "X-Planes Explained". NASAExplores.com, 9 October 2003.
  • Miller, Jay (2001) [First published 1988]. The X-Planes: X-1 to X-45 (3rd ed.). Hinckley, UK: Midland Publishing. ISBN 9781857801095. OCLC 47726721.

External links

  • Day, Dwayne A. "Delta Wings". centennialofflight.net
  • v
  • t
  • e
Lockheed and Lockheed Martin aircraft and spacecraft
Transports
Vega family
Electra family
Constellation family
L-100 Hercules family
L-188 Electra family
Other types
Fighter-bombers
Lightning family
Shooting Star family
Starfighter family
Raptor family
Other types
Reconnaissance
Blackbird family
Maritime patrol
Other crewed
UAVs
TrainersHelicoptersExperimentalLight aircraftMissilesEnginesModel
numbers
Vega
1 Not assigned
  • v
  • t
  • e
USAF / Joint Service experimental aircraft (X-plane) designations since 1941
Supersonic/special test
"S" (1946–1947)
Experimental
"X" (1948–present)
1–25
26–50
51–
See also
1 Not assigned  • 2 Assigned to multiple types  • 3 Unofficial
  • v
  • t
  • e
United States
Attack aircraft
Bomber
Experimental aircraft
Fighter aircraft
UAV
Programs
China
Fighter aircraft
Bomber
UAV
Russia
Experimental aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Bomber
UAV
United Kingdom
Experimental aircraft
Fighter aircraft
UAV
Japan
Experimental aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Italy
Fighter aircraft
India
Fighter aircraft
UAV
France
Fighter aircraft
UAV
Spain
Fighter aircraft
UAV
Germany
Experimental aircraft
Fighter aircraft
UAV
Sweden
Fighter aircraft
Turkey
Fighter aircraft
UAV
Iran
Fighter aircraft
South Korea
Fighter aircraft