Rockwell Advanced Bomber Studies

[Pyrrhic victory]

HQ versions from defenseimagery.mil

 

[Skybolt]

Thanks, great find !

 

[Matej]

Yes, great! Isnt there also the drawing of the triangular flying wing design?

 

[flateric]

no

 

[flateric]

ISADS 'Delta Spanloader' WT model

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Dan discusses this whole design study in some length in his recent book. Interestingly, when RCS was tested the design did fairly well except it had an RCS spike pointing directly forward. This seemed counterintuitive to Dan, who had deliberately designed the wing sweep, intakes etc to avoid forward reflections. He mentioned it to Rockwell's Stealth expert, who said "Oh, they all have that. Nothing you can do about it". As he realised much later on, this spike was caused by the trailing edge - he needed to angle the trailing edges too.

The model flateric posted the picture of above is currently at the LAX Flight Path Museum, if anyone wants to go arrange a look

 

[aim9xray]

Hmmmph. Coincidentally, I was there this morning. None of the docents knew anything about the wind tunnel models other than a large (about three foot span) display model of the HiMAT.

 

[Apollo Leader]

Dan discusses this whole design study in some length in his recent book. Interestingly, when RCS was tested the design did fairly well except it had an RCS spike pointing directly forward. This seemed counterintuitive to Dan, who had deliberately designed the wing sweep, intakes etc to avoid forward reflections. He mentioned it to Rockwell's Stealth expert, who said "Oh, they all have that. Nothing you can do about it". As he realised much later on, this spike was caused by the trailing edge - he needed to angle the trailing edges too.

The model flateric posted the picture of above is currently at the LAX Flight Path Museum, if anyone wants to go arrange a look

I wonder if the A-12 Avenger II had the same issue?

 

[quellish]

I wonder if the A-12 Avenger II had the same issue?

It did.

 

[hesham]

From TsAGI Technical Bulletin 20/1980 file,


here is some details for Rockwell ATB aircraft.

 

[hesham]

Full Rockwell study report...

http://stinet.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=C016293&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

Also from the same report;

 

[Dew]

HQ versions from defenseimagery.mil

2810x1850 versions available at NARA:
Artist concept of a laser aircraft in flight
Artist concept of a short-field, high fuel-efficiency aircraft in flight
Artist concept of a forward swept wing strategic aircraft in flight
Artist concept of a tilt-wing strategic aircraft in high-speed configuration
Artist concept of a tilt-wing strategic aircraft in low-speed configuration

 

[BAROBA]

I wonder if the A-12 Avenger II had the same issue?

It did.

So how would you fix it? Can you see it on a 3d model that it would have the same problem?

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

the wing trailing edges should be swept forward or back, ideally at the same angle as the leading edges, but not straight. Straight trailing edge gives a spike to rear AND to the front, neither being desirable.

 

[Coiler]

Updated direct report link

 

[Coiler]

From the linked report, some modular airframes that intrigue me. I'm curious if these (especially the transport versions) were elaborated on in other ones.

 

[hesham]

This is Rockwell's genious Dan Raymer design of so-called 'Low-Cost Simplistic Aircraft' bomber aka ISADS, one of more carefully studied during 1979 'Manned strategic system concepts 1990-2000' study.

Look here as well for other concepts studied.

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=362.msg2241#msg2241

If you want, I will add more pictoriial info to Rockwell studies thread.

Dan is very interesting person - his wife has russian roots and he even has course of his lectures in Moscow Aviation Institute in post-Perestroika period.

From this report,a bigger view.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

From this report,a bigger view.

It's the exact same picture.

 

[Orionblamblam]