Grumman X-29
Sign in to saveAlso known as Grumman Model 712, Grumman G-712, G-712, X-29
1984 experimental aircraft family by Grumman
Key facts
- Type
- Experimental aircraft
- National origin
- United States
- Manufacturer
- Grumman
- Status
- Retired
- Primary users
- United States Air Force NASA
- First flight
- 14 December 1984
via Wikipedia infobox
~12 min read
Encyclopedic overview
The Grumman X-29 is an American experimental aircraft designed to test a forward-swept wing, canard control surfaces, and other novel aircraft technologies. Funded by NASA, the United States Air Force and DARPA, the X-29 was developed by Grumman, and the two built were flown by NASA and the United States Air Force. The aerodynamic instability of the X-29's airframe required the use of computerized fly-by-wire control. Composite materials were used to control the aeroelastic divergent twisting experienced by forward-swept wings, and to reduce weight. The aircraft first flew in 1984, and two X-29s were flight tested through 1991.
Design and development
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Grumman X-29” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.