Lockheed XFV Information & Lockheed XFV Links at HealthHaven.com

XFV Salmon
Role	Experimental VTOL fighter aircraft
Manufacturer	Lockheed
First flight	23 December 1953
Primary user	United States Navy (intended)
Produced	1954
Number built	1 flying prototype plus 1 incomplete airframe

The American Lockheed XFV (sometimes referred to as the Salmon ^[1]) was an experimental tailsitter prototype built by Lockheed to demonstrate the operation of a vertical takeoff and landing fighter for protecting convoys.

[edit] Design and development

The XFV was powered by a 5,332 hp (3,976 kW) Allison YT40-A-14 turboprop engine driving three-bladed contra-rotating propellers. The tail surfaces were a reflected cruciform v-tail (forming an x) that extended above and below the fuselage. The aircraft had an ungainly appearance on the ground with a make-shift, fixed landing gear attached.^[2] Lockheed employees derisively nicknamed the aircraft the "pogo stick" (hearkening back to the rival Convair XFY ^[3]).

[edit] 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 1955.

[edit] Survivors

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.

[edit] Specifications

Only XFV-1 Prototype located at Sun 'n Fun Museum, Lakeland, Florida

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 36 ft 10.25 in (11.23 m)
Wingspan: 30 ft 22 in (8.36 m)
Height: 36 ft 10.25 in (11.23 m)
Wing area: 246 ft² (22.85 m²)
Empty weight: 11,599 lb (5,261 kg)
Loaded weight: 16,221 lb (7,358 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 16,221 lb (7,358 kg)
Powerplant: 2× 1 Allison XT40-A-14 turboprop, () each

Performance

Maximum speed: 580 mph (930 km/h)
Cruise speed: 410 mph (660 km/h)
Range: unknown ()
Service ceiling: 43,300 ft (13,100 m)
Rate of climb: 10,820 ft/min (3,300 m/min)
Wing loading: 65.9 lb/ft² (322 kg/m²)

Armament

4 × 20 mm (.79 in) cannons or 48 × 2.75 in (70 mm) rockets

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

[edit] See also

Comparable aircraft

Related lists

[edit] References

Notes

^ Taylor 1999, p. 101. The name was very obviously derived from the Lockheed Chief Test Pilot Herman "Fish" Salmon's name.
^ Winchester 2005, p. 135.
^ Winchester 2005, p. 134.

Bibliography

Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. 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.

[edit] External links

[0] Taylor 1999, p. 101. The name was very obviously derived from the Lockheed Chief Test Pilot Herman "Fish" Salmon's name.

[1] Winchester 2005, p. 135.

[2] Winchester 2005, p. 134.

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