That poor thing was handicapped by 2 puny 4,600 lb thrust engines. That's with afterburner!! It was supersonic only in a dive. With most of its mass concentrated in a long fuselage, it exhibited severe roll-coupled instability. Put it in a sharp roll and it would start to tumble, so hard that got bent. It never crashed, though.
The data it gathered was extremely helpful for the later Lockheed F-104, with a similar wing, but better engine.
That poor thing was handicapped by 2 puny 4,600 lb thrust engines. That's with afterburner!! It was supersonic only in a dive. With most of its mass concentrated in a long fuselage, it exhibited severe roll-coupled instability. Put it in a sharp roll and it would start to tumble, so hard that got bent. It never crashed, though.
ReplyDeleteThe data it gathered was extremely helpful for the later Lockheed F-104, with a similar wing, but better engine.