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General Dynamics "Short Snort"
[Removed image - better copy posted below]
[Removed image - better copy posted below]
The RALS concept has been proposed by General Electric as a means to supply a controllable forward lift vector in a V/STOL aircraft. The concept has been evaluated under contracts from the Naval Air Propulsion Center. These studies showed that, compared to propulsion systems using dedicated lift engines, the RALS ystem can provide about the same size (TOGW) supersonic fighter aircraft to complete the specified deck launched intercept mission. However, since all of the installed turbo-machinery is available to provide forward thrust, the RALS-powered aircraft far exceeds other concepts in terms of supersonic acceleration and combat specific energy, Ps. It also results in a much lower lifecycle cost because only one type of engine must be developed, procured, and maintained.
While these are important advantages, the RALS system does have disadvantages in that the remote augmentor is located near the pilot's compartment and electronics bay, requiring a means of local cooling, and it results in a relatively high exhaust gas temperature with potential deck heating problems. In theory, the use of an ejector nozzle in the remote system could pump sufficient ambient air to cool the surrounding aircraft bay and to mix the exhaust stream to a lower average footprint temperature. In addition, some degree of lift enhancement might be possible. In practice, the geometric constraint placed on the ejector for stowage and for low drag in the supersonic flight mode would make the use of a highly complex and highly efficient ejector quite difficult. However, if sufficient ejector action could be provided to increase the lift vector enough to offset the weight increase, the cooling advantages could still make the concept worthwhile.
fightingirish said:E-205 V/STOL wind-tunnel model, shown at the NASA's Ames Research Center 75th Anniversary Open House on October 18th, 2014.
Source (found via Overscan) : https://www.flickr.com/photos/gin_tonic/15478747750/in/set-72157649030746602
ScrutorAudax said:I found this at https://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/1146_Posters_and_Displays.