Scaled Composites N400 Swift trainer

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kcran567

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http://www.scaled.com/portfolio/swift/

Listed as a Low cost, composite, high angle of attack capable aircraft...

Had seven test flights so far.

Life after the TX for some other purpose?
 

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Beautiful wing structure. Beautiful integrated Tail/engine support single piece structural work. Amazing moncoque chassis.

This thing might be good to show up for FCAS! ;)
 
Yes I agree! Wonder if it is less expensive to build than th Boeing/Saab T-X? Seems to be all composite
Was the Boeing really that much easier to build? Would like to see a comparison when possible. Boeing using some new ways to manufacture to save time any money...what's was Scaled Composites
method.
 
Boeing & Saab were praising their new simple fixture system that allow parts to be assembled prior to be bonded (no extensive jigs or tooling). It seems as this is a a step forward in term of cost reduction (especially for Boeing since Saab is here indeed swallowing most of the risks).

What Scaled composite has done is basically build a prototype. I am not sure if Northrop would have been able to convince the service to agree on their cost projection for serial production with that only, especially after all their talk around their B-21 production cost projections.
 
Would be cool if NG could continue to use it as a chase plane for other projects (as someone suggested in the T-X thread before). Does a chase require proper certification, how much further testing would be needed (cost)? Then again Boeing was using a T-33 for the longest time.
 
"When navigating the unknown, our engineers and technicians take time to test out ideas during the design and build phases. During our Swift program, we had the challenge of a new loads environment and ran our wing structure design through pressure tests for a significantly higher-G environment than we usually design to!"

https://m.facebook.com/ScaledComposites/photos/a.10150174314535658/10156094738790658/?type=3&theater
 

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I wonder why the move to a wider span swept wing (trailing edge included) instead of the N156's trapezoidal type. Higher aspect ratio and wing area for the same leading edge sweep angle and wing root area? Seems like they wanted a boost in lift efficiency without having to rely on such large drag inducing LERX.
 
Swept wing is bad for alpha (AoA). Wing wash span wise tends to kill your lift and push your Cp frwd

tipstall1.jpg


Notice also that the N-400 has no noticeable outboard ailerons

Regarding the LERX, they already have the angled fuselage base that is (somewhat) equivalent in effect.
 
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/14551/these-are-the-best-images-yet-of-northrop-grummans-t-38-replacement-that-could-have-been
 

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No. It's for 5th Gen aircraft training (and counter 5th training).
New pilots will have to learn how to manoeuvre at sustained high G while still maintaining their S.A
The RFQ emphasized the ability to recover quickly from hard maneuvering (minimal loss of alt) and it was also a commune understanding that high Alpha capabilities were targeted (although denied latter as being primary KPI).
 
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