Scaled Composites 401

The Scaled Composites 401 is an American experimental aircraft, designed and produced by Scaled Composites of Mojave Spaceport, Mojave, California, introduced in 2017. The two examples built were constructed for an unnamed customer to demonstrate "advanced, low-cost manufacturing techniques" for the production of research aircraft for both industry and government.[1]

Model 401
Role Experimental aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Scaled Composites
First flight 11 October 2017
Introduction 2017
Status Under development (2017)
Number built Two

First flight was on 11 October 2017.[1]

Design and development

The Model 401 features a cantilever low-wing, a single-seat enclosed pressurized cockpit under a bubble canopy, retractable tricycle landing gear and a single jet engine.[1]

The aircraft is made from composite material. It has a 38 ft (11.6 m) span wing and a fuselage also of 38 ft (11.6 m) in length. Empty weight is 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) and gross take off weight is 8,000 lb (3,629 kg). The engine used is a single Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5D powerplant, producing 3,045 lb (1,381 kg) of thrust.[1]

The prototype has stealth aircraft characteristics and shaping.[2] Air intake is aft of cockpit, two narrow S-duct inlets preventing radar waves from reaching the engine fan blades. V-tail configuration is like that of the YF-23 (Northrop Grumman is the parent company of Scaled Composites). The prototype has similar configuration to the General Atomics Avenger.[3][4]

Specifications (401)

Data from AVweb[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 38 ft (12 m)
  • Wingspan: 38 ft (12 m)
  • Empty weight: 4,000 lb (1,814 kg)
  • Gross weight: 8,000 lb (3,629 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5D turbofan, 3,045 lbf (13.54 kN) thrust

Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach 0.6
  • Endurance: 3 hours
  • Service ceiling: 30,000 ft (9,100 m)

References
  1. Grady, Mary (11 October 2017). "Scaled Flies Single-Engine Jet". AVweb. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  2. "New, Light A-10 Candidate? Scaled Composites Design "401 Jet"". www.freerepublic.com. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  3. Rogoway, Tyler. "Exclusive Images Unmask Name Of Scaled Composites' Mysterious Model 401 'Son Of Ares' Jet". The Drive. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  4. Clarke, Chris (16 October 2017). "Nobody Really Knows What This New Experimental Plane Is". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
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