McDonnell-Douglas Model 279 VSTOL fighter

[Dew]

a few more:

 

[Nik]

Is there any indication how they got around those Pegasus' 'Plenum Chamber Burning' issues that thwarted the 'Super-Harrier' ??

I ask as, back in the late 80s, I could not get an explanation ("NDA.") from Rod (Rob ?) Rowe, who claimed his team solved the 'supersonic' thing just before political issues killed project. But he did scoff at 'Plenum Chamber Burning', strongly implying that was a 'dead end'.....

Whimsy:
Years later, I wondered if design had adopted a vertically stacked, staggered twin-Pegasus arrangement, akin to cross between Harrier and EE Lightning. Judicious combination of diverters and swivelling nozzles would provide both stable 'poster' thrust, mix-cooled, and an actual after-burner...
/

 

[Dew]

Some annotated pictures from GRC via NARA:

 

[Dew]

More stuff from NASA technical reports

Nice copy in colour from GRC via NARA:

 

[hesham]

From, Combat-Aircraft-Prototypes-Since-1945

 

[allysonca]

Here is something that I will be casting at some point.... this is THE master source whence all little baby 279's were born! ....... Don't ask!

 

[scautomoton]

Here is something that I will be casting at some point.... this is THE master source whence all little baby 279's were born! ....... Don't ask!

Wow what a find! I'll ask no questions so you can tell no lies...

 

[elmayerle]

Here is an info about Model 279-3JF;

To investigate the benefit in increased payload, the 279-3 and
the jet flapped 279-3JF were modeled on NASA's "Aircraft Synthesis
(ACSYNT) computer code and flown on a 250 ft. takeoff distance interdiction
mission. The increase in payload weight that the 279-3JF could
carry was converted into fuel in one case, and in another, converted
to bomb load. When the fuel was increased, the 279-3JF penetrated into
enemy territory almost four times the distance of the 279-3, and therefore
increased mission capability. When the bomb load was increased,
the 279-3JF carried 14 bombs the same distance the 279-3 carried four.
This increase in mission performance and improvements in turning rates
was realized with only a small penalty in increased empty weight.


http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19860021250_1986021250.pdf

I remember, "back in the day", seeing this also written in a paper for either an AIAA or SAE sympsoium. It made for interesting reading.

 

[Max8Seven]

Thank you, to everyone who’s contributed to this thread over the last couple decades! It’s been a primary source for me to learn more about this project, and I find it fascinating.

So, I hope you find my contribution to be an interesting addition!

It’s a Model 279-3, built by Dynamic Engineering Inc under subcontract for McDonnell Douglas, which was used for testing in the 9 x 7 foot supersonic wind tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field in California. It was involved in tests with wind speeds ranging from Mach 1.6 - Mach 2.4 in the course of an extensive research project to investigate various supersonic powered lift concepts in the early to mid-1980s.

The aircraft model itself is approximately 64” x 41” x 7” (163 x 104 x 18cm), and is constructed primarily from stainless steel. So, it’s fairly hefty, weighing in the neighborhood of 200 pounds (90kg)! I added the “selfie” style photo to illustrate the scale.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Awesome model. I was going to say i hadnt seen a version with tailplanes but they are indicated with dotted lines on at least one drawing.

 

[SCAT-15F]

What a beauty. Unfortunately we ended up with Fat Amy.

 

[Dsadow]

Good Morning
For your enjoyment, I found this image while going through my garage. It looks like a 279-3 that was design with RAF an RN usage in mind. Does anyone out there have anymore on this?

 

[hesham]

From Aviation Week