Republic XF-91 | |
|---|---|
| 国家 | 美国 |
| 作用 | 原型拦截机 |
| 首次飞行 | 1949年5月9日 |
| 建立 | 2 |
这 共和国 XF-91 雷电受体 （原名XP-91）是共和国航空研制的混合推进原型拦截机。飞机在大多数飞行中将使用喷气发动机，以及四个小型火箭发动机集群，在爬升和拦截过程中增加推力。由于当代喷气发动机性能的迅速提高，设计在完成时已基本过时，只制造了两个原型机。其中之一是第一架在水平飞行中超过马赫1的美国战斗机。
| 共和国 XF-91 | |
|---|---|
| 摄影师 | 约翰·赫克，弗拉基米尔·雅库博夫 |
| 本地化 | 国家航空航天博物馆， 华盛顿特区 |
| 照片 | 99 |
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General Characteristics and Role
The Republic XF-91 Thunderceptor was an experimental prototype interceptor aircraft developed for the U.S. Air Force (USAF) in the late 1940s. Its primary role was to explore the concept of a high-performance, short-range interceptor that could rapidly climb to high altitudes and intercept enemy bombers. To achieve this, the aircraft was equipped with a revolutionary mixed-propulsion system combining a turbojet engine for cruise and four rocket engines for bursts of acceleration during combat or climb. The XF-91 is perhaps best known for its uniquely designed inverse tapered wings, a feature intended to mitigate Mach tuck and improve low-speed handling.
| Property | Typical Value (XF-91) |
|---|---|
| 作用 | Experimental Mixed-Power Interceptor |
| National Origin | 美国 |
| 制造商 | Republic Aviation Company |
| First Flight | 1949年5月9日 |
| 船员 | 1 (Pilot) |
| 长度 | 13.23 m (43 ft 5 in) |
| 翼展 | 9.51 m (31 ft 2 in) |
| Gross Weight | 8,870 kg (19,550 lb) |
Propulsion and Aerodynamics
- Primary Engine: 1 x General Electric J47-GE-3 turbojet engine (in the rear fuselage).
- Turbojet Thrust: 23.35 kN (5,200 lbf) (dry).
- Auxiliary Power: 4 x Reaction Motors XLR11 liquid-fueled rocket engines (mounted in the tail above and below the jet exhaust).
- Rocket Thrust: Approx. 26.7 kN (6,000 lbf) total for short bursts.
- Maximum Speed: Mach 1.71 (achieved in a later powered flight). It was the first U.S. fighter to exceed Mach 1 in level flight using a mixed-propulsion system.
- Inverse Taper Wing: The wing chord was wider at the tip than at the root (the inverse of conventional taper). This arrangement maintained high lift at the tips, helping to prevent tip stall and improve control at high angles of attack.
- Landing Gear: Featured a unique bicycle-style main landing gear with two main wheels side-by-side at the center of the fuselage, supported by small outrigger wheels under the wingtips.
Program Outcome and Legacy
- Technical Success: The XF-91 proved the feasibility of using rocket augmentation for performance bursts and demonstrated the viability of the inverse taper wing concept for high-speed flight control.
- Cancellation: Despite its technical achievements, the program was canceled in 1952. The development of more powerful, conventional turbojet engines (which eliminated the need for complex, short-duration rocket power) and the rise of the superior all-jet F-104 Starfighter made the mixed-power interceptor obsolete.
- Legacy: The inverse taper wing design, while not adopted, was an important piece of research. The aircraft’s testing provided vital data on high-Mach flight and supersonic stability.
- Preservation: The sole remaining prototype is preserved and displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.
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