Lockheeds of the late '60s 2 - Model 1126-1

[Skybolt]

Maybe linked to the efforts that produced the CL-1054, CL-1126 TDN was assigned to another attack aircraft for the Navy, capable of VTOL and CTOL modes of operation. Shown is CL-1126-1, a combined lift/cruise concept based of 4 RR/Allison XJ-99 lift engines in the forward fuselage and two Allison PD-187 tubofan pivot-mounted of pilons attached to the rear fuselage. In VTOL mode, 64 per cent of the lift would have come from the front engines.The rear engines were cross shafted, to permit a rear engine-out take-off and landing and loitering. Stabilization during vertical flight would have been provided by wingtip roll jets and rear-fuselage mounted yaw and pitch control jets driven by air spilled from the front lift engines. Crew of two in a side-by-side arrangement. GTWO of 40.000 lbs, paload of 4000 Lbs, two three-barrel 30 mm gun in the wing roots with 960 rounds of ammunition. Fuel 10,552 lbs. Max speed Mach 0.85, with 4 hours of endurance. The CL-1126-1 was intended for a medium attack role in the 1975-1985 time period. It would have retained the catapult launch and arresting gear for CTOL use (less fuel, more external loads, and/or more range).

 

[Stargazer]

Funny how the top pic makes it look like an advanced Cutlass... Almost as if the two pics showed different projects or variants of the projects... But it's probably an effect of perspective.

 

[AeroFranz]

it is true that the nose gear has remarkable height...

 

[Skybolt]

The rear wheel gear are compressed for some reason (people working on the aircraft), and the front gear is completely extended, so it looks very long. The 3 views shows the wheel gear weighted down normally. It is usual for carrier based aircraft to have long-run gear.

 

[AeroFranz]

with a cat shot (and STOL),the longer nose gear gives the aircraft a more positive angle of attack, hence lift coefficient. This was particularly important with low aspect ratio aircraft such as the Cutlass because their lift curve slope is pretty flat, and they need to fly at high alfa to get the required CL.

 

[Skybolt]

My guess is that the depicted aircaft was redied to be catapult-launched at a very high GTOW, with rear engines in 45 degrees inclination to add lift AND thrust. No sufficient information of the intended modes of operation to be sure.