1972-1973 Convair LWA (Lightweight Attack) studies

[Sentinel36k]

Found via dtic.mil http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/915720.pdf

Sentinel

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Thats a very interesting document, and a hella ugly design.

 

[Stargazer]

As ugly as it is interesting! Thanks a lot Sentinel36k for this sweet serendipity. This PDF file proves, if need be, that DTIC has or will have a lot in store that needs to be uncovered.

This being said, I would tend to be extremely cautious before inventing the designation "Model 29" for it. "Configuration 29" indicated one of several sub-variants of a basic type, usually represented by a hyphenated suffix (for instance look at the attached chart for the F-16 development). Besides, configurations such as "26B" (page 122), "26C" (page 124) "27" (page 125), "28" (page 137), "32" (page 176), etc. all prove that these are just iterations of the same basic LWA design. The real model number for the LWA program is nowhere to be found in this document.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

I put in Model 29 in the topic not the original poster - it does kind of fit the 1972/73 Convair (San Diego) numbering scheme as earlier lightweight fighter studies to ADF/LWF were apparently Model 23, for example. However, on skimming the PDF I agree there is no hard evidence suggesting this is "Model 29".

Interestingly, Tony Buttler said that a Model 23 canard delta derivative with chin intake was wind tunnel tested in 1973.

Turning it around, the previously reported Model 23 might actually be Configuration 23 in the same series of lightweight studies. Model 23 was already used for a 1956-57 study for a supersonic nuclear powered seaplane bomber.

 

[Stargazer]

It is true that Convair designations after 1963 become very blurry. There seems to be a more-or-less chronological continuation of the main list (started in 1947 at Model 1, the XB-46 bomber) up to at least Model 70 (a 1968 proposal for the A-X program). After that it's all a mess... Apart from the well-established GD-12 (the F-111) and GD-14 (not an aircraft), I have a "Model 21" (ASW contender to the S-3), the "Model 23" you mentioned, and a "Model 44" (a design for the F-14 competition). All other designations found are in the hundreds (Model 100 "Cold Pigeon", Model 200/201 fighters, Model 205 fighter, Model 300 COD proposal, etc.). Of course we'd need to go back to the original documents to see if these were "model" numbers per se or simply configurations of a more general design.

 

[hesham]

My dears Paul and Skyblazer,


we spoke about a report from DTIC,had the Convair Model-29,and it was very closed
to this designation,here;


http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,11189.msg162939.html#msg162939

 

[Pioneer]

Interesting!!

Re your link Sentinel36k

Found this as an overview:

From book review of Technology Integration for Close Air Support Aircraft
Authors: Larry E. Hove, D. S. Hawkins, G. D. Huff, S. D. Lawder, J. R. Vineyard, GENERAL DYNAMICS FORT WORTH TX CONVAIR AEROSPACE DIV.
Publisher: Defense Technical Information Center, 1973
Length: 429 pages

“The objectives of this technology integration study for close air support aircraft are to perform configuration design and validation using, in part, man-in-the- loop simulation techniques. An advanced technology close air support aircraft configuration known as Lightweight Attack (LWA) Configuration 29 is evolved and justified. The selected configuration embodies powered lift in the form of vectored thrust with supercirculation (VT/ SC) and an advanced composite structure. Other advanced technologies which are integrated in LWA Configuration 29 are direct sideforce control (DSFC), variable camber, internal/conformal pallet for stores carriage, close-coupled canard, and modular digital avionics. Results of the study show that such an integrated advanced technology configuration provides significant improvement in total tactical fighter mission capability and in the ability to perform and survive in the ground attack environment”. (Author-PL).

Source: http://books.google.com.au/books/about/Technology_Integration_for_Close_Air_Sup.html?id=WDe6tgAACAAJ&redir_esc=y

Regards
Pioneer