Lockheed XFV

Infobox Aircraft
name=XFV Salmon


caption=
type=Experimental VTOL fighter aircraft
manufacturer=Lockheed
designer=
first flight=23 December, 1953
status=
primary user=United States Navy (intended)
produced=1954
number built=1 flying prototype plus 1 incomplete airframe
unit cost=
variants with their own articles=The American Lockheed XFV (sometimes referred to as the Salmon [ Taylor 1999, p. 101. The name was very obviously derived from the Lockheed Chief Test Pilot Herman "Fish" Salmon's name.] ) was an experimental tailsitter prototype built by Lockheed to demonstrate the operation of a vertical takeoff and landing fighter for protecting convoys.

Design and development

The XFV was powered by a 5,332 hp Allison YT40-A-14 turboprop engine driving three-bladed contra-rotating propellers. The tail surfaces were a reflected cruciform v-tail (forming an ×) that extended above and below the fuselage. The aircraft had an ungainly appearance on the ground with a make-shift, fixed landing gear attached. [ Winchester 2005, p. 135.] Lockheed employees derisively nicknamed the aircraft the "pogo stick" (hearkening back to the rival Convair XFY [ Winchester 2005, p. 134.] ).

Testing and evaluation

Starting with a brief hop on 23 December, 1953 piloted by Herman "Fish" Salmon, the aircraft made a total of 32 flights, demonstrating transition between horizontal and vertical flight. No vertical takeoffs were performed, however. The aircraft was fitted with fixed landing gear so that it could take off horizontally. Performance was disappointing, and the project was cancelled in June of 1955.

urvivors

The single flying prototype ended up at the Sun 'n Fun Museum in Lakeland, Florida. The second prototype, which was never completed, serves as a gate guardian at NAS Los Alamitos, California.

pecifications

aircraft specifications
jet or prop?=prop
plane or copter?=plane
include 'armament' field?=no
include 'capacity' field?=yes
switch order of units?=no

crew=1
capacity=
length main=36 ft 10.25 in
length alt=11.23 m
span main=30 ft 22 in
span alt=8.36 m
height main=36 ft 10.25 in
height alt=11.23 m
area main=246 ft²
area alt=22.85 m²
empty weight main=11,599 lb lb
empty weight alt=5,261 kg kg
loaded weight main=16,221 lb
loaded weight alt=7,358 kg kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=16,221 lb
max takeoff weight alt=7,358 kg kg
engine (jet)=
type of jet=
number of jets=
thrust main=
thrust alt=
engine (prop)=1
type of prop=Allison XT40-A-14 turboprop
number of props=2
power main=
power alt=
max speed main=580 mph
max speed alt=930 km/h
cruise speed main=410 mph
cruise speed alt=660 km/h
range main=unknown
range alt=
ceiling main=43,300 ft
ceiling alt=13,100 m
climb rate main=10,820 ft/m
climb rate alt=3,300 m/min
loading main=65.9 lb/ft²
loading alt=322 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
armament=4 20 mm cannons or 48 2.75 in rockets

"Note: Performance estimates are based on XFV with YT40-A-14 engine."

ee also

aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=
* Convair XFY
* Ryan X-13 Vertijet
lists=
* List of Lockheed aircraft
* List of fighter aircraft
* List of military aircraft of the United States
see also=

References

;Notes;Bibliography
* Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. "The Great Book of Fighters". St. Paul, Minnesota: MBI Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-7603-1194-3.
* Taylor, Michael. "The World's Strangest Aircraft". London: Grange Books plc, 1999. ISBN 1-85627-869-7.
* Winchester, Jim. "Lockheed XFV-1 Salmon." "Concept Aircraft: Prototypes, X-Planes and Experimental Aircraft". Kent, UK: Grange Books plc., 2005. ISBN 1-84013-309-2.

External links

* [http://www.sun-n-fun.org/content/interior.asp?section=museum&body=planes/lockheed Lockheed XFV-1 at the Florida Air Museum]