Can someone shed some light on this C-5 Galaxy?

[spectre]

Can someone shed some light on this C-5 Galaxy/NASA project? I was given this picture via email. Looks like STOL C-5? Blown flaps?

Thank you in advance.

 

[AeroFranz]

Interesting picture. Did it say somewhere explicitly that this was a C-5 derivative?
Besides the changes made to the wing, the tail looks obviously wrong. Looks like it's a variable incidence tail too (all moving).
Well, I guess that if you were going for high lift it would be a good idea to raise the horizontal stabilizer above the downwash off the wing.

But yeah, the engine position and type of flaps point to an externally blown flap configuration, with slats on top of that. Somebody was trying hard to get STOL. Do you know when this picture was taken?

 

[spectre]

Interesting picture. Did it say somewhere explicitly that this was a C-5 derivative?
Besides the changes made to the wing, the tail looks obviously wrong. Looks like it's a variable incidence tail too (all moving).
Well, I guess that if you were going for high lift it would be a good idea to raise the horizontal stabilizer above the downwash off the wing.

But yeah, the engine position and type of flaps point to an externally blown flap configuration, with slats on top of that. Somebody was trying hard to get STOL. Do you know when this picture was taken?

Sorry, I have zero info on the picture. It was forwarded to me to try to get info on it...but I am a C-130 guy. I know very little about the C-5

 

[hole in the ground]

Besides the changes made to the wing, the tail looks obviously wrong. Looks like it's a variable incidence tail too (all moving).
Well, I guess that if you were going for high lift it would be a good idea to raise the horizontal stabilizer above the downwash off the wing.

I dont think it is an all moving surface, i think it is a leading edge flap deployed upwards...

 

[Apophenia]

NASA did identify this model as a "C-5" but I think that was only a matter of convience. The same "C-5" model was used in the early '70s for 'free-flight' windtunnel test for NASA upper surface blowing development.

The tail was enlarged and moved forward to avoid the wake of new "siamese" USB nacelles on top of the wings.

 

[AeroFranz]

I dont think it is an all moving surface, i think it is a leading edge flap deployed upwards...
[/quote]

hmmm...you are right. Now that I zoom on the picture i see the deflected flap, I hadn't even noticed it at first. Leading edge slat and all moving tail would probably be overkill.
What made me think of the all moving tail was that rounded fairing at the intersection of the fin and the 'bullet' fairing of the horizontal tail. In other aircraft that's necessary to permit the rotation of the all-moving tail. Well, this being a wind tunnel model that has seen many uses, it is possible that it had provision for both, although I can't really tell except for that suspicious rounded fin.

 

[spectre]

NASA did identify this model as a "C-5" but I think that was only a matter of convience. The same "C-5" model was used in the early '70s for 'free-flight' windtunnel test for NASA upper surface blowing development.

The tail was enlarged and moved forward to avoid the wake of new "siamese" USB nacelles on top of the wings.

Thank you!!
Any more information would be great.
It looks like the pictures #2 and #3 that you posted have much different engines then the picture I posted and your #1 picture. Those engines defiantly have the exhaust blowing over the top of the wing...

What was the outcome of this project, and if able to provide, what were the development or project numbers.

Thanks again

 

[Apophenia]

I'm not sure if NASA staff had specific engines in mind for their overwing USB model. Langley Research Center staff were looking at USB for a number of reasons -- quiet(er) airliners, civilian short-field transport aircraft, and an anticipated DOD request for a STOL Hercules replacement.

The first two resulted in the C-8A QSRA or Quiet Short-haul Research Aircraft (NASA 715, a modified DHC Buffalo). For the latter project (USAF's Advanced Medium STOL Transport), based partly on NASA USB windtunnel results (Nov 1971) Boeing selected USB for its YC-14 candidate for the AMST contest. Well, at least that's what Langley claims ;D

 

[hesham]

Hi,

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19710024552_1971024552.pdf

 

[AeroFranz]

Looks like a wind tunnel model...are you sure this represents a C-5 and not a generic large cargo transport?

 

[Apophenia]

This model has come up before: http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,5366.0/

NASA called the model a "C-5" but, as AeroFranz suggests, it represented a generic transport shape used to test various flap/slat arrangements and USB nacelles (hence tailplane position change).

 

[Stargazer]

As I was browsing through the impressive collection of photographs released by NASA on their CRgis website, I came across this formidable and unlikely project: a VSTOL version of the C-5 Galaxy! As I couldn't tell if it was an actual Lockheed project or a NASA initiative, I decided to create this separate topic.

Four photographs are available on the site:

http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/Additional_Photos_for_30_X_60_Full_Scale_Tunnel:_Other_Tests_2#VSTOL_Model

 

[Orionblamblam]

My guess is that the C-5 model was just a convenient, on-han d model for testing with the basic engine concpt. Ain't no way of horsing the C-5 into the air straight up, especially with *those* dinky engines.

 

[Michel Van]

that more a STOL in stile of C-17
can this be Lockheed part of The Advanced Medium STOL Transport (AMST) competition ?

 

[Pioneer]

Hey great find taildragger

Now all we need to do is find more info on this design for the AMST competitor forum!

Regards
Pioneer

 

[Stargazer]

More pics of the VSTOL Galaxy here:

http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/File:L-70-7127.jpg
http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/File:L-70-7128.jpg
http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/File:L-70-7129.jpg
http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/File:L-70-7130.jpg
http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/File:L-70-7131.jpg

 

[Apophenia]

The forward-placed fin, modified horizontal tail, and full-span flaps shown in some of the windtunnel photos suggest that this is the same model used for USB and other tests.

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,5366.0

 

[Grey Havoc]

More pics of the VSTOL Galaxy here:

http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/File:L-70-7127.jpg
http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/File:L-70-7128.jpg
http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/File:L-70-7129.jpg
http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/File:L-70-7130.jpg
http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/File:L-70-7131.jpg

Pity the site is 'under review' at the moment.