Grumman X-29
Grumman · United States · first flew 1984 · fighter
The Grumman X-29 was an American experimental aircraft featuring forward-swept wings and close-coupled canards, making it one of the most aerodynamically unusual aircraft ever flown. Its inherent instability required a fly-by-wire control system operating at high speed.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 16.44 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Cruciform |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Forward-swept wing research aircraft
- Highly unstable canard-delta with forward-swept wings
- GE F404-powered NASA/DARPA technology demonstrator
Unmistakable: the forward-swept wings angle toward the nose rather than the tail, combined with prominent canard foreplanes and a very slender fuselage — no other operational aircraft shares this configuration.
Specifications
- The Grumman X-29 has a length of 16.44 m (54 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.29 m (27 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1770 km/h (1100 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Two X-29 aircraft were built for the DARPA/NASA/USAF programme and the first flew in December 1984. They explored the aerodynamic and structural challenges of forward-swept wings, which had previously been impractical due to aeroelastic divergence. Composite construction solved the divergence problem and the aircraft accumulated over 400 flights.
Variants
Two aircraft were built (Ship 1 and Ship 2); the second incorporated minor improvements for the high-angle-of-attack research phase.
Where you'll see it
Operated solely as research aircraft by NASA Dryden Flight Research Center and the USAF. Neither aircraft entered production or operational service; both are preserved in museums.
Related aircraft
- Grumman F-14D Super Tomcat
- Grumman Shuttle Training Aircraft
- F-14 Tomcat
- Grumman EA-6B Prowler
- ALR Piranha
- AMX International AMX
- AMX-A
- AT-63 Pampa
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.