JOHAN VISSCHEDIJK COLLECTION
No. 7284. Northrop X-21A (55-0408 c/n 45040) US Air Force
Source unknown

Northrop X-21A

12/31/2007. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "This was the first of two WB-66Ds, that were modified by Northrop to the X-21A laminar-flow control research aircraft. A new wing was fitted and the two 9,700 lb (4,400 kg) st Allison J71-A-13 engines slung from the wing were replaced by two 9,490 lb (4,305 kg) st General Electric XJ79-GE-13 engines fitted at the rear of the fuselage. In each of the underwing fairings was a Garrett/AiResearch blade-compressor that sucked the boundary layer into the wing through a series of fine spanwise slots and exhausted the air rearward to obtain additional thrust.

The first X-21A was flown for the first time on April 18, 1963,followed by the second, s/n 55-0410 c/n 45042, in August 1963. Bothaircraft are in existence at Edwards AFB, California."


Created December 31, 2007