Ball-Bartoe JW-1 Jetwing
Ball-Bartoe · United States · first flew 1977 · light aircraft
The Ball-Bartoe JW-1 Jetwing was a US research aircraft flown in the 1970s to investigate blown wing technology. It was a small mid-wing design powered by a turbofan.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.84 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Small mid-wing design with swept wings
- Slot along 70 per cent of the upper wing surface with a small "augmentor" airfoil above it
- Tailwheel undercarriage
Look for a tiny swept mid-wing jet with a tailwheel and a slot and augmentor along the upper wing surface. The wingspan is only 6.63 m.
Specifications
- The Ball-Bartoe JW-1 Jetwing has a length of 8.84 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 6.63 m (22 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 643 km/h (400 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was designed by Otto Bartoe and first flew on 11 July 1977. Air from the engine fan stage was discharged through a slot on the upper wing surface and directed over the wing by the augmentor.
Variants
Only one Jetwing was built, powered by a 2,200 lbf Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-1 turbofan.
Where you'll see it
The aircraft stayed controllable at speeds as low as 40 mph, and the US Navy considered it for short carriers. After the test programme it went to the University of Tennessee Space Institute and then to a museum in Denver.
Related aircraft
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