McDonnell IGV rocket plane

[circle-5]

Howdy! This is an unidentified factory model of a manned U.S. rocket-powered (no intakes) air vehicle. The original base was lost, so I can't even tell from which manufacturer this came from.

Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

 

[mz]

Quite weird... Any images from the rear so one could guess at the engine configuration?

Could be a hydrogen powered hypersonic research vehicle or then a higher performance unit, carrying one of its propellants internally and the other in an external tank, since it's so fat...

 

[Retrofit]

It looks like the MDD IGV hypersonic project research aircraft.

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,382.0/all.html

 

[Orionblamblam]

That was my thought, but the odd "boat hull" fuselage in the front is certainly different (as is the planform). I'm left to wonder if this might be an ISINGLASS design or some such.

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Bill Rose's SECRET PROJECTS: Military Space Technology speculates the IGV might be ISINGLASS.

 

[circle-5]

Quite weird... Any images from the rear so one could guess at the engine configuration?

Sorry but they didn't get carried away with details on this model (see photos). No engines, panel lines or control surfaces are shown. Still, it looks close enough to the MDC IGV, so that one gets my vote. The fuselage and V-tail are nearly identical, while the wing planform and profile appear a bit more refined on the model. Until proven otherwise, Isinglass it is...

Thank you all for participating.

 

[xstatic3000]

Thanks for the additional views. It almost appears as if there could be something other than the stand mounted in the hole on the aft section of the model; if the data plate was lost, it's possible that the exhaust nozzle of the model may have gone missing as well.

I'm leaning towards the views of Bill Rose, Moonbat, and Scott - From everything that I've heard and seen, this very well may be one of the final Isinglass configurations. I believe, based on other models that I have seen over the years, that this particular item probably sat in someone's secure office at an agency or a facility many, many years ago. 43 years after the project was "cancelled", I'd expect more gems related to that project to start showing up......

 

[Orionblamblam]

That is without a doubt the oddest fuselage shape for a hypersonic vehicle I've ever seen. It makes minimal sense.

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Bet there'd be all kinds of crazy heating on that.

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Greetings All -

Interesting models:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/X-Test-Vehicles-A-Lot-of-2-Experimental-Prototype-Desktop-Model-Aircraft-/271230404882?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f26978912

The one display stand has IGV AFWAL/FIM on it

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Greetings All -

On EPay at the moment are these two models - one has the display stand marked as IGV AFWAL/FIM. AFWAL is Air Force Wright Aeronautics Laboratories, not sure on the meaning of FIM.

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[Steve Pace]

Could IGV stand for InsinGlass Vehicle? -SP

 

[flateric]

It always was Incremental Growth Vehicle

 

[flateric]

I remember artist's impression of smaller one in some book...

 

[Dynoman]

AFWAL/FI designates the Flight Dynamics Laboratory. The letters after AFWAL/ usually designates a directorate or laboratory. The 'M' in FIM may designate a department of the FDL. But thats just speculation.

 

[Mr London 24/7]

Indeed, from various searches it looks like there were 4 branches to FIM (Aeromechanics Division?):

FIMS: ?
FIMG: 'High-Speed Aero-Performance Branch'
FIMM: 'Aero-Dynamics and Airframe Branch'
FIMB: ?

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

The smaller model was on pg. 48 of Sweetman's AURORA book. The quotation says it was a GD concept. Sorry my camera phone sucks.

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

I have to wonder if this was Project Rheinberry.

 

[Orionblamblam]

I have to wonder if this was Project Rheinberry.

Nope. It's a 1980's GD hypersonic glider, the same basic role and size as the CAV from a few years ago. I have drawings of it... stuffed in the Not To Ever Share With Any Damned Body Cuz What's Stamped On Em file.

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Sorry. Meant to wonder if the IGV was Rheinberry.

As for the HGV, that's one file I'd love to see... if not for what's stamped on em.

 

[antigravite]

Indeed, from various searches it looks like there were 4 branches to FIM (Aeromechanics Division?):

FIMS: ?
FIMG: 'High-Speed Aero-Performance Branch'
FIMM: 'Aero-Dynamics and Airframe Branch'
FIMB: ?

solution:

FIMS: High-Speed Aeroperformance Branch


one more:
FIMMC: Airframe Aerodynamics Group (FIMMC seems to date back from the 1980s or 90s)


A.

 

[flateric]

http://archive.aviationweek.com/issue/19730917/#!&pid=83

 

[Dew]

IGV-000112 Feb '73
Sizing study
Side Mounted SCRAM-Jets
23,000lb LOX/NH₃
YLR99 Engine (2) :



IGV-000116 Mar '73
Sizing study
Side Mounted SCRAM-Jets
13,400lb LOX/NH₃
RL10A-3-9 Engine (2) :



IGV-000120 Mar (?) '73
Sizing study
Bottom Compression Fuselage Config
13,127lb LOX/LH₂
RL10A-3-9 Engine (2) :



IGV-000??? Feb (?) '73 (?)
Sizing study (?)
?? Config
YLR99 Engine (1 or 2) :



OLREVII-000307-OLREV-II Jan '74
with F-101 nose landing gear & F-15 main landing gear installed for Volume study
YJ101-GE-100 Engine (2) :

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Great find, Dew! Thanks for sharing those!

 

[Orionblamblam]

IGV-000112 Feb '73

Once again... diagrams in desperate need of proper large format scanning. Did they come complete with documentation, or just the diagrams?

 

[Dew]

IGV-000112 Feb '73

Once again... diagrams in desperate need of proper large format scanning. Did they come complete with documentation, or just the diagrams?

Absolutely. Unfortunately all I have are images of documents.

 

[Dew]

I thought this similarity was interesting -

1969:



1974:

 

[hesham]

From this report,