USN VFX Competition (Alternatives to the F-14)

When I was a lad Once upon a time I seen American magazine (if I remember corrctly, dedicated to engineering) with impressive painting, placed on the 1st cover - two pilots ejects from the aircraft, folling in water. The aircraft has been very similar to F-14, but with single fin. That's was a riddle for me at these days. I guess, that's could be kind of advirtisment or just a good action scene, intended specially for cover, to attract readers. So, now I knew, that single-fin configuration has been considered for F-14.
Perhaps, someone also see these cover' picture and could remind me their source?
 
Single-vertical fin F-14 would have also been more complex because it had venral fins that had to fold up for landing.. Going to the twin-vertical configuration did a lot for the design. it makes you wonder how the initial twin-vertical configuration for the A3J-1 would have performed relative to the version that was built.
 
It's somewhat ironic that the original North American Aviation A3J-1 mock-up had two tailfins for stability, but the USN design Bureau got cold feet and insisted on a traditional single tailfin design being incorporated - alas with a folding mechanism, so it could fit in carrier hangers....and yet the G-303E design seems to have been the other way around.

Regards
Pioneer
 
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Sorry elmayerle, I just noticed I've for all intent and purposes duplicated what you had said regards to the twin tail fin A3J-1 mock-up.

Regards
Pioneer
 
Might be a question already know and possibly posted, but do we know in what order the USN graded and selected the VFX competitive design submissions in? I appreciate that it was:
1st place Grumman Design 303E
2nd place McDonnell Douglas Model 225;



Rockwell NA-323
General Dynamics Model 44
Vought/LTV V-507????

Thanks in advance

Regards
Pioneer
 
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I've never seen it mentioned anywhere. Only the Grumman and McDonnell-Douglas designed met the specification, the latter only barely, so it is quite possible the other three were never formally ranked.

I would guess Rockwell were last as the only fixed wing design - they used the competition mainly as a warm up for FX.
 
I recall the same info regarding Grumman and MDD. Since the others did not meet the specs, they would simply be eliminated, no point in ranking them.
 
VINTAGE RARE EARLY DESIGN (BRASS?) METAL F-14 CARRIER PLACEMENT MODEL

www.ebay.com

VINTAGE RARE EARLY DESIGN (BRASS?) METAL F-14 CARRIER PLACEMENT MODEL | eBay

<p>Early Grumman design 303 / F-14 aircraft deck placement model. Single tail design and folding rear horizontal stabs and movable flaps. The model is made of metal, my guess is brass. The model is 100% original no repairs and as discovered years ago. Please look at photos to determine...
www.ebay.com
 

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RAP said:
VINTAGE RARE EARLY DESIGN (BRASS?) METAL F-14 CARRIER PLACEMENT MODEL

www.ebay.com

VINTAGE RARE EARLY DESIGN (BRASS?) METAL F-14 CARRIER PLACEMENT MODEL | eBay

<p>Early Grumman design 303 / F-14 aircraft deck placement model. Single tail design and folding rear horizontal stabs and movable flaps. The model is made of metal, my guess is brass. The model is 100% original no repairs and as discovered years ago. Please look at photos to determine...
www.ebay.com
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Interesting. I think this is not quite 303-E but more like the very early 303-60. But the tailfin tips should fold down, not up, so the wings can sweep over the tails. See the drawings in this thread for comparison.

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/f-14-tomcat.8461/
 
I think that the wing should be swpet in its most angled position and then only the tailplane folded (up look the way it really should according to the model plastic cuttings).
 
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For some reason I missed this particular forum and I would have sworn that I had posted it. Anywho.... I was able to obtain 2 of these beauties thru much breath holding and whining from a good friend who found the original box of 3 in a local hobby shop! A bit small for my liking but a joy to just hold and fondle none the less.
 

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allysonca said:
For some reason I missed this particular forum and I would have sworn that I had posted it. Anywho.... I was able to obtain 2 of these beauties thru much breath holding and whining for a good friend who found the box of 3 in a local hobby shop! A bit small for my liking but a joy to just hold and fondle none the less.
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What a score!!!
 
This fantastic trio was indeed shared in the specific V-505/V-507 thread, but that's always a pleasure to see it.
 
Since F-111B had the big single vertical tail, its logical they worked from single to twins. But that last model from flateric with a low wing would have been problematic for loading stores if you intended to eventually add bombs. Might have made loading Pheonix, Sparrow, and Sidewinders easier when manual loading was still the mode.
 
MadRat said:
Since F-111B had the big single vertical tail, its logical they worked from single to twins. But that last model from flateric with a low wing would have been problematic for loading stores if you intended to eventually add bombs. Might have made loading Pheonix, Sparrow, and Sidewinders easier when manual loading was still the mode.
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While I don't think anyone was manually loading 1000lbs worth of Phoenix, manual loading of Sparrows and especially Sidewinders lasted until the early 1990s. I mean, a Sidewinder is a 3-man lift on a bad day, a Sparrow closer to 6.
 
overscan (PaulMM) said:
Using Model 199-302 artwork from Friedman's Fighters over the fleet, we can draw an interesting design timeline.
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According to Tony Buttler (American Secret Projects: Fighters & Interceptors) page 169

McDD had undertaken a VFAX design study from the autumn of 1967, probably under Model number 222

There were two principal versions of the Model 225
225A: powered by P&W TF30-P-12
225B: same airframe but new more powerful engines either P&W JTF22A-22 or GE1/10F10B2. Provided the use of titanium, the airframe would offer the potential to go Mach 3 with that engines. A new radar could be adapted to the reconnaissance role.

Model 225C: all fighter armament removed and a 31in nose extension added to accommodate the reconnaissance sensors
 
Antonio said:
According to Tony Buttler (American Secret Projects: Fighters & Interceptors) page 169

McDD had undertaken a VFAX design study from the autumn of 1967, probably under Model number 222

There were two principal versions of the Model 225
225A: powered by P&W TF30-P-12
225B: same airframe but new more powerful engines either P&W JTF22A-22 or GE1/10F10B2. Provided the use of titanium, the airframe would offer the potential to go Mach 3 with that engines. A new radar could be adapted to the reconnaissance role.

Model 225C: all fighter armament removed and a 31in nose extension added to accommodate the reconnaissance sensors
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It appears this is correct. The 222 "Advanced Fighter / Attack Aircraft" is assigned in August 1967 ("Jarrett"), with a note "per RSC 10/27/1967".

Model 225A is assigned 27th October 1967 ("R S Chase")

Therefore it seems Model 222 was "prework" on VFAX before receiving official request and Model 225 was assigned when the actual request was assigned.

Model 225B was assigned 15 October 1968 ("R S Chase"). Model 225A was the basic F-14A equivalent, Model 225B the "F-14B" with advanced engines and avionics. B1 had P&W JTF-22A-22 and B2 had GE 1/10F10B2 engines.

Model 225C (the recce version) was also assigned 15 October 1968 ("R S Chase")

F-4 Model 98FV(S) was assigned 21 June 1966 ("L P Bradley")

Model 199 was assigned 7 May 1965 ("L P Bradley")
 

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