The Rockwell XFV-12 was a prototype supersonic fighter built in 1977 for the United States Navy. It tried to combine the Mach 2 speed and Sparrow missile armament of the F-4 Phantom II with vertical takeoff and landing for the small Sea Control Ship then under study. It used a thrust-augmented wing in which engine exhaust was ducted through slats in the wing and large canards, and borrowed the nose of the A-4 Skyhawk and the intakes of the F-4. A single Pratt and Whitney F401 afterburning turbofan powered it. Tethered hover tests in 1978 showed the thrust augmentation fell far short, so the aircraft never made an untethered vertical takeoff and the Navy cancelled the programme in 1981.
Facts
Engine Class Maximum Mass (kg) EnginePratt & Whitney F401-PW-400 1 Comparison
Body StyleAircraft (no road body style) 1 Connections
Exemplifies
Source Rockwell XFV-12 (Wikipedia)
Of Make
Source Rockwell XFV-12 (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Rockwell XFV-12 (Wikipedia)
Lead
was a prototype supersonic United States Navy fighter which was built in 1977
Lead, body style
was a prototype supersonic United States Navy fighter
Specifications, powerplant
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney F401-PW-400 afterburning turbofan engine, 30,000 lbf (130 kN) with afterburner
Specifications, empty weight
Empty weight: 13,800 lb (6,260 kg)
Specifications, maximum takeoff weight
Max takeoff weight: 24,250 lb (11,000 kg)
Operational history
cancelled the project in 1981
Design and development
Rockwell's design with the XFV-12 won against Convair's proposal
Lead, nationality
was a prototype supersonic United States Navy fighter
Exemplifies: Aviation, Lead, mode
a prototype supersonic United States Navy fighter
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