The X-29 - a Unique and Innovative Aerodynamic Concept

Grumman Corporation, under a contract sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and monitored by the United States Air Force, has designed, fabricated, and is jointly flight testing the X-29 Advanced Technology Demonstrator with NASA. The X-29 was conceived to demonstrate in-flight the potential advantages of several advanced and innovative technologies integrated into one vehicle design. These advanced technologies include:

• A forward-swept wing (FSW) employing a thin supercritical airfoil
• Aeroelastically-tailored composite wing covers to control divergence
• A close-coupled, variable-incidence canard
• Variable wing camber
• Three-surface trim configuration.

An aerodynamic overview of the configuration development and integration of these technologies is presented. Wind tunnel results and flight test results, where available, are also presented to substantiate the advantages of these innovative concepts.