Drucella Andersen

Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

October 3, 1991
(Phone: 202/453-8613)

Don Haley
Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, Calif.
(Phone: 805/258-3449)

RELEASE: 91-159

NASA/USAF X-29 COMPLETES FLIGHT RESEARCH PROGRAM

The X-29, an unusual research aircraft built to investigate

the feasibility of a forward swept wing design, made the last
flight in its high angle of attack research program on Sept.
30 at NASA's Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards,
Calif.

The X-29 is being hailed as one of the most successful

"X-planes" in history. The flight test program, which began
in December l984, not only recorded the most flights by an
X-series aircraft (374), but also proved that multiple
advanced technologies could be integrated into a single
piloted research aircraft.

The unusual configuration of forward swept wings coupled

with movable canards reduces aerodynamic drag by up to 20
percent at transonic speeds, according to Ames-Dryden X-29
Project Manager Gary Trippensee. He also noted that the
design gives pilots excellent control response up to 45
degrees angle of attack. Angle of attack is an engineering
term that describes the angle of an aircraft's body and wings
relative to its flight path.

At angles of attack up to 45 degrees, the X-29's forward

swept wing has better-than-expected control and
maneuverability. Designing these same high angle of attack
qualities into new high-performance aircraft could give
military pilots an advantage in situations where they need
greater maneuverability.

NASA research pilot Steve Ishmael, who flew the X-29 on its
first NASA flight, believes data from the program can be
important to designers of future aircraft.
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"The X-29 has shown that a forward swept wing on a

transonic fighter will have at least the equivalent
performance of a rearward swept wing -- maybe better in
certain areas -- and it can be an excellent design alternative
in high performance airplanes," said Ishmael. "When an
aircraft is being designed, the location of the wings
influences the design of the rest of the aircraft. The
forward swept wing presents a greater design latitude and
there's no penalty to pay in performance."

The first X-29 completed 254 research missions between Dec.

14, l984 and Dec. 8, l988 to measure the plane's performance
and handling qualities. The second aircraft began flying in
May 1989. It flew up to 67 degrees angle of attack to
investigate handling and control characteristics. This second
phase of research also evaluated the military utility of the
forward swept wing-canard design.

The program also studied other advanced technologies such

as variable camber flaperons (combined flaps and ailerons),
rear-mounted strake flaps for pitch control and an advanced
flight control system to integrate control surface functions
for stable flight.

Proposals to build the two X-29 research aircraft were

issued in l977 by the Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency and the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory (now the
Wright Laboratory), Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Grumman
Aircraft Corp., Bethpage, N.Y., won the $87 million contract
in December l981.

Twenty-one pilots flew the X-29s during the joint NASA-Air

Force program: seven from NASA, 10 from the Air Force, one
from the U.S. Navy and three from Grumman. The Air Force's
Wright Laboratory managed the program. Flight research was
conducted at Ames-Dryden with the participation of the Air
Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, and Grumman. The
aircraft are in storage at Dryden for the present time.

-end-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Video of the X-29 flight test program is

available to media representatives by calling 202/453-8594.
Still photos also are available to media representatives by
calling 202/453-8375.

Color: 91-HC-652 B&W: 91-H-756

91-HC-653 91-H-757