The Scaled Composites Sierra (Model 401) is an American experimental aircraft, designed and produced by Scaled Composites of Mojave Spaceport, Mojave, California, introduced in 2017. The two examples built were constructed for an unnamed customer to demonstrate "advanced, low-cost manufacturing techniques" for the production of research aircraft for both industry and government.[2]
| Model 401 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Experimental aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Scaled Composites |
| First flight | 11 October 2017 |
| Introduction | 2017 |
| Status | Under development (2017) |
| Number built | Two |
| Developed into | Scaled Composites 437 (Collaborative combat aircraft)[1] |
First flight was on 11 October 2017.[2]
Design and development
editThe Model 401 is a single-seat experimental prototype of broadly conventional configuration. The pressurized cockpit is enclosed by a bubble canopy and the plane incorporates a single jet engine and retractable tricycle landing gear.[2]
A low-wing cantilever monoplane, it has lightly swept constant-chord wings with trapezoidal inner sections.[3][4] It has a butterfly or V tail.
The aircraft is made from composite material. It has a 38 ft (11.6 m) span wing and a fuselage also of 38 ft (11.6 m) in length. Empty weight is 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) and gross take off weight is 8,000 lb (3,629 kg). The engine used is a single Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5D powerplant, producing 3,045 lbf (14 kN; 1,381 kgf) of thrust.[2]
Specifications (401)
edit
Data from AVweb[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Length: 38 ft (12 m)
- Wingspan: 38 ft (12 m)
- Empty weight: 4,000 lb (1,814 kg)
- Gross weight: 8,000 lb (3,629 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5D turbofan, 3,045 lbf (13.54 kN) thrust
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 0.6
- Endurance: 3 hours
- Service ceiling: 30,000 ft (9,100 m)
References
edit- ^ "Northrop's Stealthy Loyal Wingman Drone Breaks Cover and It Has a Cockpit". August 9, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Grady, Mary (October 11, 2017). "Scaled Flies Single-Engine Jet". AVweb. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
- ^ Clarke, Chris (October 16, 2017). "Nobody Really Knows What This New Experimental Plane Is". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
- ^ "New, Light A-10 Candidate? Scaled Composites Design "401 Jet"". www.freerepublic.com. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
External links
edit- Official first flight press release Archived October 14, 2017, at the Wayback Machine