General Dynamics E-3/E-5/E-7 VSTOL Fighters

[overscan (PaulMM)]

General Dynamics E-3/E-5

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

General Dynamics E-7

 

[Dronte]

It photographs of the wind tunnel model of the E-7 and outline of the operation of the power plant
(sourceopular Mechanics edition Argentinean Nov. 1989)

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

General Dynamics E3 VTOL fighter using ejector lift

Source:

D. Koenig, F. Stoll and K. Aoyagi (NASA Ames Research Center) Application of Thrusting Ejectors to Tactical Aircraft Having Vertical Lift and Short-Field Capability AIAA article 81-2629

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

GD E-7 (?) model

 

[rousseau]

This one was called E-7,

 

[starviking]

I once found this photo in the net, unfortunately I haven't
the link anymore. The E-7 seems to be based on a vectored
thrust engine .

The E-7 VTOL concept relied on a thrust deflector at the rear and Thrust Augmented Ejectors near the front.

Air was diverted from the rear of the engine to the front via a long pipe and ejected down - balancing the thrust deflected at the rear.

There are some NASA PDFs on featuring the E-7 on the web:

V/STOL and STOVL Aerodynamic Performance:
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19840014468_1984014468.pdf

VSTOL Concepts Past, Present and Future:
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19840014464_1984014464.pdf

Wave-Drag and High Speed Performance of Supersonic Fighter Configurations:
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19890000646_1989000646.pdf

Looks like a lot of interesting stuff in them - I just haven't had time for more than a quick browse.

Starviking

 

[elmayerle]

E-7 was yet another design intended to use exhaust-driven ejectors for vstol lift. After the fiasco of the XFV-12A, following on the failure of the XV-4A (it had to be rebuilt as the XV-4B with a battery of lift jets to do any vstol ops), you'd think people would finally realize that there's a fatal disconnect as you scale up from wind tunnel to full scale.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Moved to own topic

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

E-2, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-6, E-7

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

E-7 profiles and warload.

From GD NASA contractor report:

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/9840019625_1984019625.pdf

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Interesting angle here. Cranked wing suggests maybe E-3/DFE?

 

[hesham]

Hi,

and from Flightglobal;
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1988/1988%20-%200935.html
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1988/1988%20-%200639.html

 

[hesham]

Hi,

E-7 from NASA;

http://www.iasa.com.au/folders/Publications/pdf_library/ospreypdfs/ar93.pdf

 

[ysi_maniac]

Source: Joint Strike Fighter by Bill Sweetman

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

From http://ails.arc.nasa.gov

 

[Skyraider3D]

Interesting NASA report: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19900002435_1990002435.pdf


Here are further General Dynamics STOVL fighter designs, which may be related to the above F-16 lookalike:

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19810014497_1981014497.pdf

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19790001853_1979001853.pdf

There appear to be many more reports related to General Dynamics STOVL fighter designs from around the 1980 period.


Thanks for moving my post! I suspected there would be a topic on the subject already, but didn't find it.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

NASA model of E-7

http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/Additional_Photos_for_30_X_60_Full_Scale_Tunnel:_Other_Tests#E-7A

 

[Stargazer2006]

Have these been added?? When I indexed all the pics at CRgis two months ago, I don't recall seeing these...

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

I don't think so - I recall them being there before, just didn't post at the time.

 

[hesham]

Hi,


was that from General dynamics E series ?.

 

[hesham]

Hi;


http://airborn12.com/extras/attack_aircraft.html

 

[flateric]

it's just very poor artist's representation by David Palmer (Salamander Books 'An illustrated Guide...' series) of one of E-series

 

[Stargazer2006]

Apparently, the E-7 design continued to be studied after Lockheed's takeover of General Dynamics.

Here is a 1995 report describing the "E-7D, an ejector-augmentor powered-lift aircraft designed by Lockheed Fort Worth Company (LFWC)", subcontracting to General Electric Aircraft
Engines (GEAE). The E-7D is said to differ from the earlier E-7A in details of the propulsion system, and having a more complex engine and a DMICS-based flight-control system.

Moving Base Simulation of an Integrated Flight and Propulsion Control System for an Ejector-Augmenter STOVL Aircraft in Hover, June 1995
NASA Technical Memorandum 108867, NASA Ames Research Center

 

[cqya888]

Ťhanks

 

[Sundog]

Interesting angle here. Cranked wing suggests maybe E-3/DFE?

I just read this post. That appears to me to be a modified F-16XL converted into a demonstrator for the program, rather than building an entirely new airframe.

 

[Fluff]

I once found this photo in the net, unfortunately I haven't
the link anymore. The E-7 seems to be based on a vectored
thrust engine .

The E-7 VTOL concept relied on a thrust deflector at the rear and Thrust Augmented Ejectors near the front.

Air was diverted from the rear of the engine to the front via a long pipe and ejected down - balancing the thrust deflected at the rear.

There are some NASA PDFs on featuring the E-7 on the web:

V/STOL and STOVL Aerodynamic Performance:
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19840014468_1984014468.pdf

VSTOL Concepts Past, Present and Future:
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19840014464_1984014464.pdf

Wave-Drag and High Speed Performance of Supersonic Fighter Configurations:
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19890000646_1989000646.pdf

Looks like a lot of interesting stuff in them - I just haven't had time for more than a quick browse.

Starviking

Somewhat surprised in the past present document, they describe the AV8B, the key feature(to me) is the front nozzles are cold, the rear are hot - doesn't get a mention.

If your job is to summarise different ideas that seems worth mentioning.

This E7 routing hot air forward then down, seems like a lot of work, those ducts look draggy. Appreciate it was POC.

 

[asiscan]

I

Interesting angle here. Cranked wing suggests maybe E-3/DFE?

I just read this post. That appears to me to be a modified F-16XL converted into a demonstrator for the program, rather than building an entirely new airframe.

Yes seems to be a vestigial feature from the F-16E/"SCAMP" and later the "XL". The E-7A routed cool fan air forwards to the wing root ejectors, while the E-7D used a mixed flow (cool bypass air and hot core air) for the same effect.. nothing. Claims that the ejector could increase the fan flow by 50% seem (I say hesitantly) - overblown.. Sounds too much like a repetition ofthe failings of the XV-12A. The magical "entrainment" effect and getting more from less scuttled many concepts, particulary the Avro Canada efforts of the 1950-60. Even so, a very interesting concept if it could work.

 

[hesham]

From Krila 3/1988.

 

[asiscan]

Nice find Hesham! Thanks. All the pictures I have seen of the E-7 have never shown wing twist.
I don't know if this has already been mentioned but what I have found is:

- E-7A: Part of US/Canadian ejector program. With Rolls-Royce "Spey" engine (possibly RB-168-25R Mk-202/3).
- E-7B: Part of US/Canadian ejector program. With General Electric F110 engine. Aft fan nozzle deleted.
- E-7C: Mixed fan and core engine air flow. Axisymmetric gimballed core stream nozzle directly aft of vectoring lift nozzle.
- E-7D: Mixed fan and core engine air flow. 2 dimensional, convergent-divergent vectoring aft nozzle directly aft of vectoring lift nozzle.

Of course these were all just proposed static research examples.

 

[Apophenia]

... E-7A: Part of US/Canadian ejector program. With Rolls-Royce "Spey" engine (possibly RB-168-25R Mk-202/3)...

Under the US/Canada Focused Ejector Technology Program, the de Havilland division of Boeing Canada built a full-scale wind tunnel model of the E-7A. As you say, it was that model which had powered generated by "a Rolls-Royce 'Spey' engine obtained from a previous research program."*

So, the Spey was something that NASA had in stock. Rather than ex-RAF Phantom engines, the powerplant would more likely be the Spey MK 801-SF (Split Flow) - a Spey Mk 611 previously modified by Rolls-Royce (Canada) for NASA's AWJSRA (V/STOL Buffalo) programme. Removing that engine's transition section, colander-plate connector, and bifurcated Pegasus Mk.5 nozzles wouldn't have been difficult.

BTW: the plan for the full-scale powered wind tunnel model was to return it to DHC for a rebuild into a Phase II configuration with an F110 replacing the Spey and a 2D-CD nozzle to represent the E-7D rather than an E-7A.

* Configuration E-7 Supersonic Fighter/Attack Technology Program, John E. Jenista & David S. Bodden, General Dynamics Fort Worth Division, 1988, page 3

 

[asiscan]

... E-7A: Part of US/Canadian ejector program. With Rolls-Royce "Spey" engine (possibly RB-168-25R Mk-202/3)...

Under the US/Canada Focused Ejector Technology Program, the de Havilland division of Boeing Canada built a full-scale wind tunnel model of the E-7A. As you say, it was that model which had powered generated by "a Rolls-Royce 'Spey' engine obtained from a previous research program."*

So, the Spey was something that NASA had in stock. Rather than ex-RAF Phantom engines, the powerplant would more likely be the Spey MK 801-SF (Split Flow) - a Spey Mk 611 previously modified by Rolls-Royce (Canada) for NASA's AWJSRA (V/STOL Buffalo) programme. Removing that engine's transition section, colander-plate connector, and bifurcated Pegasus Mk.5 nozzles wouldn't have been difficult.

BTW: the plan for the full-scale powered wind tunnel model was to return it to DHC for a rebuild into a Phase II configuration with an F110 replacing the Spey and a 2D-CD nozzle to represent the E-7D rather than an E-7A.

* Configuration E-7 Supersonic Fighter/Attack Technology Program, John E. Jenista & David S. Bodden, General Dynamics Fort Worth Division, 1988, page 3

Thanks for clarifying Apophenia.
I wasn't sure about the "Spey" model, but i've concluded that either way the rolls-royce rig wold need modding..
just found it (RR Spey 801-SF) here:

NASA Technical Memorandum

books.google.com.au