LTV L450F
Ling-Temco-Vought · United States · first flew 1970 · reconnaissance aircraft
The LTV L450F was a prototype quiet reconnaissance aircraft developed by Ling-Temco-Vought in the late 1960s for use in the Vietnam War.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboprop, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.8 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Modified Schweizer SGS 2-32 sailplane airframe with a high wing
- Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop driving a three-bladed propeller
- Main landing gear based on that of the Grumman Ag-Cat agricultural aircraft
A long-winged sailplane-derived aircraft with a turboprop in the nose and an endurance of 24 to 30 hours.
Specifications
- The LTV L450F has a length of 8.8 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17 m (56 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was developed from a Schweizer SGS 2-32 sailplane, modified with stronger wing spars, thicker wing skin and a turboprop engine. It first flew in February 1970.
Variants
The first prototype was destroyed on its third flight on 23 March 1970, the pilot bailing out. A third prototype was ordered as the unmanned XQM-93 drone.
Where you'll see it
On 27 March 1972 Donald R. Wilson reached 15,456 m in horizontal flight in the remaining L450F, setting an FAI turboprop class record. The XQM-93 project was cancelled.
Related aircraft
- A-7 Corsair II
- Vought RF-8G Crusader
- LTV XC-142
- Vought QF-8L Crusader
- LTV XQM-93
- MiG-25RB
- Tupolev Tu-143
- Avro Shackleton AEW.2
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