The Northrop X-21A was an experimental aircraft designed to test wings with laminar flow control. It was based on the Douglas WB-66D airframe, with the wing-mounted engines moved to the rear fuselage and making space for air compressors. The aircraft first flew on 18 April 1963 with NASA test pilot Jack Wells at the controls. [1]

May 2, 2023 · Explore how a wing’s lift could be artificially boosted to reduce drag and increase performance, particularly in large, long-range aircraft designs—some of which would be supersonic. Drag reduction...

The Northrop X-21 was a modified WB-66D with an experimental wing, designed to conduct laminar flow control studies. Laminar-flow control was thought to potentially reduce drag by as much as 25%.

Jul 7, 2011 · With the large-scale X-21 flight tests and further wind-tunnel tests, Northrop developed methods for avoidance of spanwise contamination. Another problem that was uncovered during the X-21...

Northrop's new experimental aircraft, the X-21, is exploring a revolutionary aerodynamic technique called Laminar Flow Control. The use of LFC can, in theory, double an aircraft's range and endurance. The implications for military or civil …

The Northrop X-21A was an experimental aircraft designed to test wings with laminar flow control. It was based on the Douglas WB-66D airframe, with the wing-mounted engines moved to the rear fuselage and making space for air compressors.

Dec 10, 2023 · In the early 1960s, amidst the dynamic landscape of aviation exploration, the Northrop X-21A emerged as a beacon of innovation. Tasked with a mission that went beyond the ordinary, this experimental aircraft sought to unravel the secrets of laminar-flow control, a technology promising transformative improvements in aerodynamic efficiency.

Sep 26, 2024 · The Northrop X21A was an experimental aircraft designed to test wings with laminar flow control. It was based on the Douglas WB66D airframe, with the wingmounted engines moved to the rear fuselage and making space for air compressors. The aircraft first flew on 18 April 1963 with NASA test pilot

Media in category "Northrop X-21" The following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total.

Northrop X-21. The Northrop X-21A modified the WB-66D with an unusual wing to conduct Laminar Flow Control studies. Laminar-flow control was thought to potentially reduce drag by as much as 25%.