Republic AP-100

The Republic Aviation AP-100 was a prototype VTOL, six-turbojet engined, nuclear capable, strike fighter concept designed by Alexander Kartveli, It had three ducted fans in the centre of its fuselage and tail and was a possible contender for the TFX Program.[1][2][3] The project was designated as a "fighter", but in fact was a tactical attack aircraft capable of launching a small nuclear bomb. The weight of the aircraft would have been 38,000 lb (17,237 kg) with its engines generating 14,400 lb (6,532 kg) of thrust and capable of a speed of up to mach 2.3.

AP-100
Role VTOL strike fighter
Manufacturer Republic Aviation
Designer Alexander Kartveli
Status Canceled

History

The AP-100 would have been equipped with small General Electric J85 turbojets. It would have been lifted by three medium-sized tubular propellers in the fuselage, powered by combustion gases from the J85 turbojets. The propellers were covered at the bottom by closing plates that also functioned as baffles during normal flight, and at the top at two sides, round doors that could be opened to the centerline and up. The proper routing of the floating flows would also have been ensured by the doors of the main running shafts. Of particular interest is that despite the six engines, only two outlets are visible on the models used for aerodynamic experiments, while six are shown in the drawings. Stabilization was provided by a fourth, rearmost propeller and nozzles led out of the first gear under the wings while floating. The wings are unusually small. This is because the large, flat fuselage was able to produce significant lift, a design principle that was next used more seriously on later, fourth generation fighters. The AP-100, by its design, could have been capable of speeds around Mach 2, but due to its weight, the strength of the propellers would have been a limit. In any case, the plan did not go beyond the models.

Specifications (AP-100, as designed)

Data from

General characteristics

  • Crew: one pilot (A variant, 2 in B variant)
  • Length: 67 ft (20 m)
  • Wingspan: 35 ft (11 m)
  • Height: 13 ft (4.0 m)
  • Wing area: 401 sq ft (37.2 m2)
  • Gross weight: 38,000 lb (17,237 kg)
  • Powerplant: 6 × General Electric J85 turbojet

Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach 2.3

References
  1. Project Hummingbird (Technical Report) A Technical Summary and Compilation of Characteristics and Specifications on Steep-Gradient Aircraft, Volume 88, April 1961. By United States Federal Aviation Agency. Page 143-144, Figure 175.
  2. Air Progress History of Aviation Spring 1961 edition
  3. Aviation Week and Space Technology, Lift-Fan Tests Show VTOL Potential. August 8, 1960
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.