NASA developed the AD-1 Oblique Wing Aircraft for testing swept wing technology in the 1970s. The experiment led to successful designs like the F-14 Tomcat.
Weapons:
SCIENCE!
Controls:
1 - engines on
2-8 - N/A
VTOL adjusts wing angle.
Production notes: This is the "I just want to fly the damn thing" version without fine detail and better tuning of realistic performance characteristics like stall speed, lift, and wing rotation effect. I'm going to continue working on more cockpit detail over time, but this thing has about a million little switches and dials and scientific instruments, so it's going to be a while. It's probably still able to run on most potatoes, but let me know if it doesn't work with your device. If this is the case, download the previous version without cockpit detail linked above.
The landing gear shouldn't be able to retract, but you'll just have to decide for yourself as you play. I'll likely build custom gear for the next version. (I like how clean it looks without the gear sticking out anyway.)
Fuel consumption still seems very high -- but then again it was an experimental aircraft not made for any routine application. I can make it around Krakabloa from Yeager Airport with roughly 180 liters of fuel (~60%).
I find it handles the most comfortably at about 50% wing rotation (30 degrees) but beyond that it starts to become hard to control due to extreme unintended roll input during pitch adjustments. It does, however, seem to go a little faster when the wing is rotated. Let me know what you think of how it flies.
Have fun!
Specifications
Spotlights
General Characteristics
- Predecessor NASA Ames AD-1 Variable Wing Testbed
- Created On Windows
- Wingspan 32.5ft (9.9m)
- Length 38.5ft (11.7m)
- Height 8.6ft (2.6m)
- Empty Weight 1,614lbs (732kg)
- Loaded Weight 2,146lbs (973kg)
Performance
- Power/Weight Ratio 1.602
- Wing Loading 5.3lbs/ft2 (26.0kg/m2)
- Wing Area 403.0ft2 (37.4m2)
- Drag Points 2434
Parts
- Number of Parts 257
- Control Surfaces 5
- Performance Cost 1,105
i forgor about this aircraft 💀
@Power123 Oh, bummer. That's frustrating.
@geek1love at least you finished it
@geek1love I build it in alpha version it's a normal plane with a rotator on the wing took me months but the file got corrupted so I never got to finish it
@Power123 It took some tinkering to get it to fly like this. In what way is yours unstable?
I tried building one of this but it's very unstable
@AndrewGarrison Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
Very cool build! I had never heard of this and I love learning about unusual aircraft from the community.
@geek1love mmm
@Th3rmoplylae I've spotted several small air intakes on the wings and I'm trying to find out what they did. It also had a great deal of atmospheric recording instruments (temp, pressure, etc.). Look up the cockpit panel. The thing looks like a pincushion with all of the dials and indicators sticking out of it. Lots to research if I want to do it right. Not everything will make sense to try to duplicate in SP, but it might be interesting to try.
@geek1love what scientific packages does ad -1 have
@Th3rmoplylae Go ahead and make your own variant with gizmos. Go wild. I only plan on adding replica instruments in the original design.
@geek1love just make a panel reflective and stick it on there
@Th3rmoplylae It doesn't even have a gyroscope. Or a thing that goes "BING!"
@geek1love a photoelectric panel i guess
@Th3rmoplylae Heartily agree
needs more science
nice