The Lockheed “Speed Agile” looks like something the X-Men would pilot, but it’s currently undergoing testing in the world’s largest wind tunnel, owned by the Air Force. Designed to be super flexible and capable of landing in “oh, shit, there’s no runway” settings, the Speed Agile would also be able evade radar for crucial runs. The one you see here is only 23 per cent of the real deal. Which doesn’t exist yet. But if it ever does see the light of day — which is a huge if, with any military prototype — it’ll be gigantic. I just hope they build it tough enough to withstand a direct drone hit. [DEW Line via DefenseTech]
AnthonyP
Friday, September 16, 2011 at 10:16 AMWrong, wrong, wrong, Put the engines above the wing for a shorter take off! Air over the wing moving faster than the air under the wing creates lift. Putting the engine under the wing will only increase the down force!
me
Friday, September 16, 2011 at 12:17 PMi have a rather sneaking suspicion that at least a few people a little bit smarter than you are working on this plane… maybe..
Big Windows
Friday, September 16, 2011 at 12:34 PMWe cant see the whole plane so could the part we are not seeing be control surfaces to allow vertical or vstol capability. If the engines were mounted on the top could thrust be directed down thru the body of the plane to allow for this? Juest a thought?
Evan
Friday, September 16, 2011 at 11:08 AMAdditionally engines installed low are more prone to damage by birds (birdstrikes) – I have seen a $14Million dollar engine completely destroyed by a single bird.
More noise will be perceived on the ground with low-mounted engines.
EckyThump
Friday, September 16, 2011 at 11:23 AMIs it just me, or does this thing look like the ‘Horten brothers’ Nazi stealth jet? #}
EckyThump
Friday, September 16, 2011 at 11:23 AMOh, and they had the engines on top of the wing! #]
Ollie
Friday, September 16, 2011 at 12:33 PM…no they didn’t. The outlets were above, but the centreline of the inlets was just below the centreline of the nose.
EckyThump
Friday, September 16, 2011 at 12:57 PMAh, well it’s been awhile since I saw it on Austar, this thing still looks like though!
MDG
Friday, September 16, 2011 at 7:17 PMNorthrop Grumman have developed everything based on the Horton Wing designs of WWII… Nothing stealthy about WWII plane designs…
The concept from Lockheed Martin still has a vertical tail, (Probably Northhrop will Sue anyone else who makes a tailless plane, citing 60 year patents that they bought from some unnamed Gentleman with a Monocle (As part of a package deal)….)
MotorMouth
Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 2:15 PMFaster air over the top of the wing works because it is all the same air, so increasing the velocity lowers the air pressure, creating lift. A jet engine is basically a big air compressor, so feeding high pressure gases into the air passing over the wing will actually increase the pressure, thereby reducing lift.