Lockheed Martin / NASA X-59 LBFD

History of Lockheed Martin / NASA X-59 LBFD

NASA selected Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works division to design and develop the experimental Low Arm Flight Demonstrator (LBFD) aircraft. The aircraft will be used to collect data that currently limits the reduction in sonic boom performance of superfast commercial airliners over populated airspace (one of the major failures of Europe's BAC/Aerospatiale "Concorde" supersonic aircraft program).

The LBFD will also be used to launch a whole new generation of NASA-funded "X-Planes," a long-running series of experiments driven by the research industry (some of which would become record-holders) that would culminate in the Cold War (1947-1991) , aerospace technology played a key role in the advancement of Americans. The main ultimate goal of the new program is to provide a standard data schema for civil aerospace aircraft manufacturers to refer to as they develop their own high-efficiency subsonic products.

When NASA first announced the project in August 2017, no fewer than three companies were interested, but ultimately only Lockheed was the only party to submit a formal bid. The company chose to build the aircraft using existing "off-the-shelf" systems, including the carrier-based Northrop T-38 "Talon" for advanced jet trainers and the carrier-borne F/A-18 "Super Hornet" origin fighter-bombers - this not only speeds up the production of airworthy units, but also controls development costs.

According to a concept drawing released by NASA, the LBFD will feature a sleek overall shape, a tapered duckbill nose cone, a delta wing main plane, and a rather unique horizontal stabilizer assembly. The cockpit is located amidships and the pilot's fore and aft visibility is limited due to the raised nature of the forward and rear spines of the fuselage (this is to break up oncoming cantilever shocks at very high speeds).

To compensate for the reduced visibility, the aircraft will be equipped with an XVS display system that includes an onboard camera with color imagery to provide pilots with situational awareness during critical takeoff and landing operations. The overall shape of the aircraft adopts a "three plane" design - the main plane of the delta wing is located aft of the midship, and the forward canard and traditional tail are mounted aft. In addition to the traditional horizontal stabilizer, there is a set of smaller horizontal stabilizers located high on a single vertical stabilizer (similar to the "multi-fins" used by many commercial and military aircraft).

For ground operations, a tricycle landing gear with these components of the Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon is used. The T-38 will occupy most of the cockpit area of ??the LBFD and can accommodate one pilot. Structurally, the overall length of the aircraft will be 94 feet from nose to tail.

The LBFD will have speeds approaching Mach 1.4 and will be able to fly to altitudes of 55,000 feet, requiring cockpit pressurization and pilot life support systems. Power is said to come from a single General Electric GE F414 afterburner turbofan engine (the same one used in the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet family), which is aspirated by a supersonic ductless air intake system. The placement of the engines was key to the design, including placing the unit deep in the fuselage, with its edges fine-tuned to the existing fuselage to maintain aerodynamic efficiency.

Air intakes can be seen above the rear ridge of the fuselage, with a conventional exhaust ring at the very end of the fuselage - so little or no ducts are needed to direct air through the unit.

A design review is imminent before the end of 2019, with a first flight planned sometime in mid-2021. Flight tests are scheduled to arrive in 2023 and continue through 2025.

During this period, public feedback will also be welcomed and evaluated as the aircraft is tested in selected populated areas of the United States.

LBFD is likely to help usher in a new era of commercial aviation and expand the already remarkable legacy of America's contributions to aerospace.

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