Convair San Diego Lightweight Naval Fighter 1970 - 1973

[overscan (PaulMM)]

I've found no references to this design except in Tony Buttler's American Secret Projects: Fighters & Interceptors.

"Convair San Diego lightweight fighter for Navy, 1970. Gross weight in region of 26,000lb (11,974kg). Visually resembled Fort Worth's YF-16. Studies under this number still ongoing in 1973. Wind tunnel model tested 11.73 for canard delta design with chin intake."


Anyone got a lead on this?

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

One idea - maybe the "canard delta" design is related to the 772 design:

 

[sferrin]

Looks like the first step in making a Model 200 into an F-16. ;D

 

[litzj]

it seems resemble of YF-16 and Super-Delta-Dart (canard version of F-106, proposed only)

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Looks like the first step in making a Model 200 into an F-16. ;D

I have a drawing of the Model 770 ADF study, which looks ancestral to both Model 200 and this model 772.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Update - I have a drawing of the Model 23 (thanks to Tony), it looks like a drawing of a wind tunnel model. It looks identical to the Model 772 drawing above - overlaying the drawings shows 100% match on geometry.

 

[fightingirish]

Unfortunately I can't confirm, if this picture is related to the Convair San Diego Model 23 Naval Fighter or is related to another model number.
See https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/th...e-and-convair-model-numbers.11189/post-160330 and

Alternative ADF configurations
ADF 401B - 6 April 1971
ADF 772 - 13th August 1971 (seems to be inspired by Convair San Diego's Model 200 configuration)
Large versions on CodeOne Website:
http://www.codeonemagazine.com/article.html?item_id=114

https://flic.kr/p/2pQW5uA

View: https://flic.kr/p/2pQW5uA

Dear mods, if necessary, feel free to move this post to a more suitable topic.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Hmm. The VG planes in the background are Convair Model 44 VFX proposals, which would seem to date this to 1968/69.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

This appears to be a pre-Model 200 fighter study.

 

[Manuducati]

Hmm. The VG planes in the background are Convair Model 44 VFX proposals, which would seem to date this to 1968/69.

Unless there is a twin fins Model 44 variant, the heavy fighter in fighingirish picture looks like a Grumman Model 303/F-14 to me. Meaning the artwork is post January 1969.

Model 44 for comparison.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Yep you are correct.

That lines up with Model 23 timeframe better.

 

[fightingirish]

Hi folks, I will post this picture just here in this topic.
Unfortunately I can't confirm again, if this picture is related to the Convair San Diego Model 23 Naval Fighter or is related to another model number. It could be also Convair Model 785 as mentioned on page 227 in Tony Buttler's American Secret Projects: Fighters & Interceptors.

https://flic.kr/p/2pSfvyF

View: https://flic.kr/p/2pSfvyF

Dear mods, if necessary, feel free to move this post to a more suitable topic.

 

[starviking]

Hi folks, I will post this picture just here in this topic.
Unfortunately I can't confirm again, if this picture is related to the Convair San Diego Model 23 Naval Fighter or is related to another model number. It could be also Convair Model 785 as mentioned on page 227 in Tony Buttler's American Secret Projects: Fighters & Interceptors.

https://flic.kr/p/2pSfvyF

View: https://flic.kr/p/2pSfvyF

Dear mods, if necessary, feel free to move this post to a more suitable topic.

Given the circular doors visible on the upper fuselage, it’s almost certainly VTOL or V/STOL.

The stumpy fuselage suggests attack, but that may just be caused by the width requirements for the liftfans/jets.

 

[MihoshiK]

One idea - maybe the "canard delta" design is related to the 772 design:

2 30 mm cannons in the wing roots. Someone was feeling spicy.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

This is the "Model 23" drawing from SDASM vi Tony Buttler.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Hi folks, I will post this picture just here in this topic.
Unfortunately I can't confirm again, if this picture is related to the Convair San Diego Model 23 Naval Fighter or is related to another model number. It could be also Convair Model 785 as mentioned on page 227 in Tony Buttler's American Secret Projects: Fighters & Interceptors.

https://flic.kr/p/2pSfvyF

View: https://flic.kr/p/2pSfvyF

Dear mods, if necessary, feel free to move this post to a more suitable topic.

"Model 785" is well-known ADF/LWF Configuration 785.



This design is clearly a V/STOL attack aircraft. The description on Flickr is "Convair advanced attack plane".

 

[fightingirish]

Hi folks, I will post this picture just here in this topic, which was uploaded to the SDASM Flickr Archives on 2025-01-23.IIRC the designation Convair Model 44 in the picture description is false.

https://flic.kr/p/2qGQRqz

View: https://flic.kr/p/2qGQRqz

Dear members and mods, if necessary, feel free to correct me or to move this post to a more suitable topic.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Ooh that's awesome!

Scaled up 2x using ai tools.

 

[taildragger]

Looks a little like the older, much prettier sister of the Boeing X-32.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

These two are different - the top image labelled 'Model 44' has a larger intake and different wing shape. also note the huge "fillet" in the wing-body join which is used to house the gun. Top has Agile AAMs bottom Sidewinder.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

This VTOL design shares some design features with this one, notably the chonky vertical tail, horizontal tail and perhaps basic wing planform.