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Lent by Ames Research Center
The oblique wing was a concept of NASA scientist Robert Thomas Jones
(1910-1999) that allowed the wing of the aircraft to rotate relative to
the aircraft fuselage (or pivot) as its speed increased. Jones was one
of the great aviation pioneers who in the mid 1940s while working for
NACA espoused swept wing design. His books and articles are standards in
the field. His oblique wing experiments of the 1960s were pursued with
many different models including radio-controlled models at low speed.
The concept was good in theory but practical implementation issues
associated with wing fuselage loading and stability were difficult to
overcome. With the advancements in materials and computer flight
controls Ames and Dryden built and flight-tested at low speeds an
oblique wing aircraft (AD-1) for a feasibility study (1979-1982). The
detailed design of the AD-1 was done by Burt Rutan, world-renowned
designer and builder of unique aircraft using composite construction.
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