High StaticDigitalForward Aeroelastically Tailored

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X-29 Advanced Technologies
High Static Digital Forward Aeroelastically
Tailored Instability Fly-by-Wire Swept
Wing Composite Wing
Thin Supercritical Airfoil
Full Authority Discrete Variable Three
Surface Closed Coupled Canards Camber Pitch
Control
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Major Program Partners

• Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
• Grumman Corporation
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  (NASA)
• United States Air Force

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Significant Program Funds
120M DARPA 55M Grumman 20M NASA
20M Other Source Air Force Flight Test Center
History Office
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Program Time Period
December 1981 Grumman Authorized To
Proceed December, 1984 First Flight October
1992 Last Flight
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X-29 Flights

• 436 Flights
• 254 Ship 1, 003
• 182 Ship 2, 049
• 23 X-29 Pilots
• 3 Grumman Pilots
• 7 NASA Pilots
• 1 Navy Pilot
• 12 Air Force Pilots

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Potential Forward Swept Wing Benefits
1. Enhanced Lateral Control at High Angle of
Attack 2. Reduced Wing Profile, Trim
Drag 3. Reduced Wing Box Weight 4. Enhanced
Fuselage Design Freedom 5. Enhanced External
Stores Potential
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Forward Swept Wing Advantages
1. 5 - 30 Gross Weight Reduction 2. Significant
ly Improved High Alpha Handling 3. Improved
Internal Packaging 4. Improved Transonic
Maneuvering Drag
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X-29 Specific Objectives
1. Composite Aeroelastically Tailored Wing Covers
Could Control Divergence 2. Reduce Transonic
Drag 3. Flaperons Could Provide Improved Camber
Control 4. Digital Flight Control Could Control
Significantly Longitudinally Unstable Aircraft
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X-29 Accomplishments

• Subsonic, Transonic Performance Is Not Sensitive
  To Wing Sweep Direction
• Performance Enhancements Were Controversial

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X-29 Accomplishments

• Divergence Free Forward Swept Wing Was
  Demonstrated
• Little Insight Into Design Margins

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X-29 Accomplishments

• Excellent Flying Qualities Are Achievable With
  Classical Design Techniques and When Implemented
  With Conventional Digital Hardware
• The Longitudinal Instability Limited The
  Aircrafts Maneuverability

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X-29 Accomplishments

• State-of-the-Art High Alpha Handling Qualities
  Were Demonstrated With System Simplicity

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Programmatic Observations
1. Multiple Agencies Extract More Value Out of
Resources Than Solo Efforts. 2. Research
Aircraft Should Be Designed To A Primary
Objective. 3. Experimental Aircraft Are
Extremely Valuable Investment In Human Skills.