Vought (LTV) SF-106 and SF-121 "Superfly" VATOL fighters

Posted earlier Vought '1978 VATOL' identified as SF-121

A mathematical model for Vertical Attitude Takeoff and Landing (VATOL) aircraft simulation. Volume 3: User's manual for VATOL simulation program - NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Instructions for using Vertical Attitude Takeoff and Landing Aircraft Simulation (VATLAS), the digital simulation program for application to vertical attitude takeoff and landing (VATOL) aircraft developed for installation on the NASA Ames CDC 7600 computer system are described. The framework...
ntrs.nasa.gov ntrs.nasa.gov

NASA CR-166129

A MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR VERTICAL ATTITUDE TAKEOFF AND LANDING (VATOL) AIRCRAFT
SIMULATlON
VOLUME I MODEL DESCRIPTION AND APPLICATION
BY ROBERT L FORTENBAUGH
DECEMBER 1980
PREPARED UNDER CONTRACT NAS2-10294 BY VOUGHT CORPORATION
DALLAS, TX 75265 FOR
AMES RESEARCH CENTER
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
 

Attachments

  • Vought SF-121-1s.jpg
    Vought SF-121-1s.jpg
    231 KB · Views: 2,398
  • Vought SF-121-2s.jpg
    Vought SF-121-2s.jpg
    220.1 KB · Views: 1,823
Last edited by a moderator:
SF-106 was an ancestor of the SF-121.

Vought NASA SF-121 contractor report:

Study of aerodynamic technology for VSTOL fighter/attack aircraft, phase 1 - NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

A conceptual design study was performed of a vertical attitude takeoff and landing (VATOL) fighter/attack aircraft. The configuration has a close-coupled canard-delta wing, side two-dimensional ramp inlets, and two augmented turbofan engines with thrust vectoring capability. Performance and...
ntrs.nasa.gov ntrs.nasa.gov
 

Attachments

  • SF-106.jpg
    SF-106.jpg
    48.9 KB · Views: 1,516
  • SF-121a.jpg
    SF-121a.jpg
    177.1 KB · Views: 1,457
  • SF-121c.jpg
    SF-121c.jpg
    116 KB · Views: 1,101
  • SF-121d.jpg
    SF-121d.jpg
    81.8 KB · Views: 551
  • SF-121e.jpg
    SF-121e.jpg
    98.9 KB · Views: 502
Last edited:
... and artwork for what appears to be the SF-106 design...

Enjoy the Day! Mark
 

Attachments

  • xLTV SF-106 artwork.jpg
    xLTV SF-106 artwork.jpg
    209.8 KB · Views: 727
Here are a few more images of a wind tunnel model that appears to be for the SF-106 or thereabouts.

Enjoy the Day! Mark
 

Attachments

  • Vought wind tunnel model with pieces.jpg
    Vought wind tunnel model with pieces.jpg
    233.5 KB · Views: 354
  • Vought single fin canard wind tunnel model - 1.jpg
    Vought single fin canard wind tunnel model - 1.jpg
    544.3 KB · Views: 357
  • Vought single fin no canard winglets wind tunnel model - 1.jpg
    Vought single fin no canard winglets wind tunnel model - 1.jpg
    351 KB · Views: 316
  • Vought single fin no canard wind tunnel model - 1.jpg
    Vought single fin no canard wind tunnel model - 1.jpg
    540.4 KB · Views: 313
  • Vought twin fin canard wind tunnel model - 1.jpg
    Vought twin fin canard wind tunnel model - 1.jpg
    461.5 KB · Views: 325
  • Vought twin fin no canard wind tunnel model - 1.jpg
    Vought twin fin no canard wind tunnel model - 1.jpg
    161.7 KB · Views: 357
The wind tunnel picture shows several small triangular surfaces that can be tested next to the wing and canard. Were those winglets? One of the pictures of the assembled model seems to show them on the wing.
 
AeroFranz said:
The wind tunnel picture shows several small triangular surfaces that can be tested next to the wing and canard. Were those winglets? One of the pictures of the assembled model seems to show them on the wing.
Click to expand...
They look like interchangeable trailing edges for the wings and canards.
 
Not really your bad. The small nearly triangular pieces all by themselves behind the canard bits and forward of the wing and its bits are the winglets which are on the model in the third photo.

Enjoy the Day! Mark
 
flateric said:
Posted earlier Vought '1978 VATOL' identified as SF-121

Found at NTRS

NASA CR-166129

A MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR VERTICAL ATTITUDE TAKEOFF AND LANDING (VATOL) AIRCRAFT
SIMULATlON
VOLUME I MODEL DESCRIPTION AND APPLICATION
BY ROBERT L FORTENBAUGH
DECEMBER 1980
PREPARED UNDER CONTRACT NAS2-10294 BY VOUGHT CORPORATION
DALLAS, TX 75265 FOR
AMES RESEARCH CENTER
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Click to expand...

Here's a link to said document: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19810019546_1981019546.pdf

Interesting to discover that the "SF-" in the type's prefix probably just means Superfly, presumably the name given by Vought to the project (page 7).
 
Stargazer2006 said:
Interesting to discover that the "SF-" in the type's prefix probably just means Superfly, presumably the name given by Vought to the project (page 7).
Click to expand...

Confirmed.

Vought Corporation has conducted a conceptual design study and aerodynamic analysis of a Vertical Attitude Takeoff and Landing (VATOL) fighter/attack aircraft. The "Superfly" VATOL configuration is illustrated on the facing page. The salient features are the close coupled canard-delta wing planform and the two augmented turbofan engines fed by fixed ramp inlets. Axisymmetric gimbal led nozzles and wingtip reaction jets provide attitude control in vertical attitude hover and transition. Conventional landing gear permit short takeoffs from ships or normal runway operation. Extensive use of composite materials make a single engine vertical landing capability a feasible design goal.
Click to expand...

Source: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19790001857_1979001857.pdf
(contains more stuff about the SF-121 than just my quote)
 

Attachments

  • Superfly2s.jpg
    Superfly2s.jpg
    710.2 KB · Views: 309
And of course, logically, the "SF-" in SF-106 also meant Superfly...

Figure 2-2 illustrates the original Vought approach to a Navy VATOL fighter, the SF-106 "Superfly". The configuratton is aggressively simple to minimize empty weight, cost and maintenance. The propulsion system is sized to permit a minimum weight vertical landing with either engine disabled. The landing gear i s compatible with vertical or horizontal attitude operations. The low aspect ratio delta wing was selected for low weight and supersonlc drag and for its gradual stalling characteristics. This configuration was tested in the Vought 4 x 4 foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel to Mach 2.4 and to 35 degrees angle of attack. The SF-121 configuration Incorporates lessons learned from these tests.
Click to expand...
 

Attachments

  • Image5.jpg
    Image5.jpg
    119.7 KB · Views: 383
I believe Mark's wind tunnel photos are of the Vought High Speed Wind Tunnel modified SF-106 model - Test 588 conducted in September 1976. Reference to this model is given in the 1978 NASA contractor's report for the SF-121 (see pic below) proposal along with several curious references to the SF-122. The SF-122 is also referenced in later docs dated November 1980, but no details of the SF-122 can be found. Maybe a typo???
 

Attachments

  • SF-121 Report 1978.png
    SF-121 Report 1978.png
    98.5 KB · Views: 287
Good info Asiscan,


and I will search about SF-122 in NASA reports.
 
Skyblazer said:
And of course, logically, the "SF-" in SF-106 also meant Superfly...

Figure 2-2 illustrates the original Vought approach to a Navy VATOL fighter, the SF-106 "Superfly". The configuratton is aggressively simple to minimize empty weight, cost and maintenance. The propulsion system is sized to permit a minimum weight vertical landing with either engine disabled. The landing gear i s compatible with vertical or horizontal attitude operations. The low aspect ratio delta wing was selected for low weight and supersonlc drag and for its gradual stalling characteristics. This configuration was tested in the Vought 4 x 4 foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel to Mach 2.4 and to 35 degrees angle of attack. The SF-121 configuration Incorporates lessons learned from these tests.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

"The propulsion system is sized to permit a minimum weight vertical landing with either engine disabled. "

:eek:
 
asiscan said:
I believe Mark's wind tunnel photos are of the Vought High Speed Wind Tunnel modified SF-106 model - Test 588 conducted in September 1976. Reference to this model is given in the 1978 NASA contractor's report for the SF-121 (see pic below) proposal along with several curious references to the SF-122. The SF-122 is also referenced in later docs dated November 1980, but no details of the SF-122 can be found. Maybe a typo???
Click to expand...


Hi Asiscan,


it is not a typo,the SF-122 was a V/STOL strike fighter concept of 1978.


http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19820013284_1982013284.pdf
 
A few more to add to the Superfly conversation. First a disclaimer, these are poor quality. They appear to be 1970's photocopies of the presentation slides that I was able to scan. Sometimes you do the best with what you are presented. I hope they are still of interest. VAHF archives.


SF-103 General Arrangement
SF-105 General Arrangement
SF-106 and A-4 Plan View
 

Attachments

  • SF-103-Superfly-VTOL-Concept-General-Arrangement.jpg
    SF-103-Superfly-VTOL-Concept-General-Arrangement.jpg
    73.9 KB · Views: 1,137
  • SF-105-Superfly-VATOL-Concept-General-Arrangement.jpg
    SF-105-Superfly-VATOL-Concept-General-Arrangement.jpg
    121.7 KB · Views: 1,142
  • SF-106-vs-A-4-Plan-View.jpg
    SF-106-vs-A-4-Plan-View.jpg
    70.6 KB · Views: 1,068
Bill S said:
I hope they are still of interest.
Click to expand...

I'm surprised you even ask the question... Thanks a lot for these great documents!
 

Attachments

  • 15640586696_2ae65e226e_o.jpg
    15640586696_2ae65e226e_o.jpg
    191.2 KB · Views: 793
Last edited:
Here is a SF-121 wind tunnel model a little earlier than the previous image in this post.
Note there is a distinct windshield shape and of course two vertical fins.
VAHF archives.
 

Attachments

  • SF-121-Upper-Left-WT-Model-VAHF.jpg
    SF-121-Upper-Left-WT-Model-VAHF.jpg
    53.6 KB · Views: 263
  • SF-121-Left-Side-WT-Model-VAHF.jpg
    SF-121-Left-Side-WT-Model-VAHF.jpg
    45.6 KB · Views: 234
  • SF-121-Left-Front-Nose-Up-WT-Model-VAHF.jpg
    SF-121-Left-Front-Nose-Up-WT-Model-VAHF.jpg
    54.6 KB · Views: 209
  • SF-121-Front-Nose-Up-WT-Model-VAHF.jpg
    SF-121-Front-Nose-Up-WT-Model-VAHF.jpg
    50.8 KB · Views: 588
PaulMM (Overscan) said:
I'm going to guess this wind tunnel model shown at NASA Ames 75th Anniversary open day is a Vought SF-121. Its kind of generic canard delta though.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/gin_tonic/15640586696/in/set-72157649030746602
Click to expand...

Great pic !!
I believe it is the very same 0.4 scale model used in the Ames 40 x 80 ft wind tunnel to evaluate the SF-121 configuration, specifically high AOA with sideslip tests on a rotating platform. The only pic I have seen is a VERY poor quality scan on page 35 of Assessment of Aerodynamic Performance of V/STOL and
STOVL Fighter Aircraft by W.P. Nelms - NASA Tech Memorandum 85937. Picture from the NASA memo is attached, I apologize for the bad quality, but dude provides good scale.. :)

link to NASA memo: http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19840014468

Documents indicate that Vought played around with the baseline SF-121 design quite a lot, in fact many of the illustrations in the 1978 contractors report to NASA of the SF-121 were actually the jet flap SF-120 (including the 3 view drawing).
 

Attachments

  • Vought SF-121 1981-Ames.png
    Vought SF-121 1981-Ames.png
    234.6 KB · Views: 268
Hi folks,
sorry to hijack @overscan (PaulMM)'s thread, but this concept, posted by Mike Acs on his Flickr-site yesterday, is IMHO mislabeled and has nothing to do with the McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Short Take-Off and Landing/ Maneuver Technology Demonstrator (STOL/MTD) program, as this concept lands like a tailsitter on the carrier. I haven't found the right topic here in SPF so far this afternoon.
If anyone finds the right concept name and its topic, please let me know, and I will move this post to that topic.
Thanks in advance for your answer and support. :)
https://flic.kr/p/2oiVUGd
 

Attachments

  • 52711440068_33aec891f4_o.jpg
    52711440068_33aec891f4_o.jpg
    1.7 MB · Views: 199
Last edited by a moderator:
fightingirish said:
Hi folks,
sorry to hijack @overscan (PaulMM)'s thread, but this concept, posted by Mike Acs on his Flickr-site yesterday, is IMHO mislabeled and has nothing to do with the McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Short Take-Off and Landing/ Maneuver Technology Demonstrator (STOL/MTD) program, as this concept lands like a tailsitter on the carrier. I haven't found the right topic here in SPF so far this afternoon.
If anyone finds the right concept name and its topic, please let me know, and I will move this post to that topic.
Thanks in advance for your answer and support. :)
Click to expand...
Model 263 no tail variant, would be my guess.

Edit: correctly identified by Overscan in the post below as Vought SF-121 VATOL
 
Last edited:
Vought SF-121 VATOL

vought-sf-121-1s-jpg.17670


 
Last edited:
Amazing my dears PaulMM and Mark,

and some of them are easy to identity and others are not.
 

Similar threads

Please donate to support the forum.

Back
Top Bottom