Rolls-Royce LiftSystem
Encyclopedia
The Rolls-Royce LiftSystem is an innovative propulsion system designed for use in the STOVL
variant of the F-35 Lightning II
developed during the Joint Strike Fighter Program
. The system was awarded the Collier Trophy
in 2001.
originally intended to use this aircraft to replace its Sea Harrier FA2s
, and the RAF
its GR9s however after the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security review the decision was made to instead order the F-35C CV (Carrier Variant) version. The U.S. Marine Corps will use the F-35B to replace both its AV-8B Harriers
and F/A-18 Hornet
fighters with a design similar in size to the Air Force F-35A, trading fuel volume for vertical flight systems.
A requirement of the JSF is that it can attain supersonic
flight, and a suitable vertical lift
system that would not compromise this capability was needed for the STOVL variant. The solution came in the form of the Rolls-Royce
LiftSystem, developed through a $1.3 billion System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract from Pratt & Whitney
. This requirement was met on 20 July 2001.
and developed by Rolls-Royce, and a thrust vectoring
nozzle for the main engine exhaust that provides lift and can also withstand reheat
in conventional flight to achieve supersonic speeds. The system has more similarities to the Russian Yakovlev Yak-141
and German EWR VJ 101D/E
than the preceding generation of STOVL designs to which the Harrier belongs.
The entire team responsible for developing the propulsion system includes Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman
, BAE Systems
, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce, under the leadership of the United States Department of Defense
Joint Strike Fighter Program Office. Paul Bevilaqua
, Chief Engineer of Lockheed Martin Advanced Development Projects at their Skunk Works
, is credited the lift fan for the Joint Strike Fighter F-35B
with being responsible for the initial development of the LiftSystem although the concept of a shaft-driven lift-fan dates back to the mid-1950s. Both the US and the UK investigated lift fan designs.
While the F-35B's primary powerplant is the Pratt & Whitney F135
, specifically derived from the F119-PW-100
, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) awarded General Electric and Rolls-Royce a $2.1 billion contract to jointly develop the F136
engine as an alternative, and the LiftSystem has been designed for interchangeability between the two engines. However, it is expected that a further $1.3 billion would be needed to complete the development of the F136 and there is some doubt about its future: the DOD proposals for terminating the F136 in its FY2007 and FY2008 budgets were rejected by Congress on both occasions, but DOD has again requested termination in its FY2009 budget proposal.
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The Rolls-Royce LiftSystem comprises four major components:
The configuration of the propulsion system is somewhat like a vertical ducted turboprop
embedded into the centre of the aircraft's fuselage. The three-bearing swivel module (3BSM) is a thrust vectoring nozzle at the tail of the aircraft which allows the main turbofan
cruise engine exhaust to pass either straight through with reheat capability for forward propulsion in conventional flight, or to be deflected downward to provide aft vertical lift.
In "lift" mode for assisted vertical manoeuvers, 28,000 hp of power is diverted forward through a driveshaft from the engine's low-pressure (LP) turbine via a clutch and bevel-gearbox
to a vertically-mounted, contra-rotating
lift fan located forward of the main engine. The fan efflux (low-velocity unheated air) discharges through a thrust vectoring nozzle on the underside of the aircraft, thus balancing the aft lift generated by the 3BSM. Owing to the significant increase in LP turbine expansion ratio, implied by the large power off-take, the exhaust of the turbofan is switched from a mixed to unmixed configuration. For lateral stability and roll control
, bypass
air from the engine goes out through a pair of roll-post nozzles in the wings on either side of the fuselage. For pitch control
, the areas of exhaust nozzle and LiftFan inlet are varied conversely to change the balance between them while maintaining their sum, and with constant turbine speed. Yaw control
is achieved by yawing the 3BSM. Forward, and even backward, motion is controlled by tilting the 3BSM and LiftFan outlet.
The following indicates the component thrust values of the system in lift mode:
In comparison, the maximum thrust of the Rolls-Royce Pegasus
11-61/F402-RR-408, the most powerful version of the Harrier's engine is 23800 pound-forces (105.9 kN).
Like lift engines, the added LiftSystem components are dead weight during flight, but the advantage of employing the LiftSystem is that its greater lifting power increases takeoff payload by an even larger amount. Also, the fan's cool efflux reduces the harmful effects of hot, high-velocity air which can harm runway pavement or an aircraft carrier deck.
The LiftFan utilises hollow-bladed titanium blisk
s (a bladed disk or "blisk" achieved by super-plastic forming of the blades and linear friction welding
to the blisk hub). Organic matrix composites are used for the interstage vanes. The LiftFan must safely function in a 250 knots (136.1 m/s) crosswind, which occurs at its intake when the aircraft transitions between forward flight and hover.
The clutch mechanism, which uses dry plate carbon–carbon technology originally derived from aircraft brakes, needs the ability to transfer 29000 shp without chatter or wear while ensuring high life.
The gearbox has to be able to operate with interruptions to its oil supply of up to a minute while transferring full power through 90 degrees to the LiftFan.
The Three-Bearing Swivel Module has to both support the final hot thrust vectoring nozzle and transmit its thrust loads back to the engine mounts. A new word, "fueldraulics", was coined by the engineers to define the power system of the 3BSM's actuators, which uses fuel pressurised to 3,500 lbf/in2 rather than hydraulic fluid to reduce weight and complexity. One actuator travels with the swivel nozzle, moving through 95 degrees while subject to intense heat and vibration.
LiftSystem flight testing commenced in June 2001, and on 20 July that year the X-35B became the first aircraft in history to perform a short takeoff, a level supersonic dash and vertical landing in a single flight. By the time testing had been completed in August, the aircraft had achieved 17 vertical takeoffs, 14 short takeoffs, 27 vertical landings and five supersonic flights. During the final qualifying Joint Strike Fighter flight trials, the X-35B took off in less than 500 feet (152.4 m), transitioned to supersonic flight, then landed vertically.
Ground tests of the F136/LiftSystem combination were carried out at the General Electric facility in Peebles, Ohio
in July 2008. On 18 March 2010, a STOVL equipped F-35B performed a vertical hover and landing demonstration at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Lexington Park, MD.
, in recognition of "the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America", specifically for "improving the performance, efficiency and safety of air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year."
Pratt & Whitney F135
Fighter Engine Team General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136
Components:
LiftFan
Three-bearing swivel module
Roll posts
Related lists
STOVL
STOVL is an acronym for short take off and vertical landing.This is the ability of some aircraft to take off from a short runway or take off vertically if it does not have a very heavy payload and land vertically...
variant of the F-35 Lightning II
F-35 Lightning II
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, fifth generation multirole fighters under development to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions with stealth capability...
developed during the Joint Strike Fighter Program
Joint Strike Fighter Program
Joint Strike Fighter is a development and acquisition program intended to replace a wide range of existing fighter, strike, and ground attack aircraft for the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and their allies. After a competition between the Boeing X-32 and the Lockheed Martin X-35, a...
. The system was awarded the Collier Trophy
Collier Trophy
The Collier Trophy is an annual aviation award administered by the U.S. National Aeronautics Association , presented to those who have made "the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space...
in 2001.
Requirement
The F-35B STOVL variant of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft is intended to replace the vertical flight Harrier, which was the world's first operational short-takeoff / vertical-landing fighter. The Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
originally intended to use this aircraft to replace its Sea Harrier FA2s
BAE Sea Harrier
The British Aerospace Sea Harrier is a naval VTOL/STOVL jet fighter, reconnaissance and attack aircraft, a development of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier. It first entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980 as the Sea Harrier FRS1 and became informally known as the "Shar"...
, and the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
its GR9s however after the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security review the decision was made to instead order the F-35C CV (Carrier Variant) version. The U.S. Marine Corps will use the F-35B to replace both its AV-8B Harriers
AV-8B Harrier II
The McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II is a second-generation vertical/short takeoff and landing ground-attack aircraft. An Anglo-American development of the British Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the Harrier II is the final member of the Harrier family that started with the Hawker Siddeley P.1127 in...
and F/A-18 Hornet
F/A-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets . Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and...
fighters with a design similar in size to the Air Force F-35A, trading fuel volume for vertical flight systems.
A requirement of the JSF is that it can attain supersonic
Supersonic
Supersonic speed is a rate of travel of an object that exceeds the speed of sound . For objects traveling in dry air of a temperature of 20 °C this speed is approximately 343 m/s, 1,125 ft/s, 768 mph or 1,235 km/h. Speeds greater than five times the speed of sound are often...
flight, and a suitable vertical lift
VTOL
A vertical take-off and landing aircraft is one that can hover, take off and land vertically. This classification includes fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters and other aircraft with powered rotors, such as cyclogyros/cyclocopters and tiltrotors...
system that would not compromise this capability was needed for the STOVL variant. The solution came in the form of the Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce plc
Rolls-Royce Group plc is a global power systems company headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second-largest maker of aircraft engines , and also has major businesses in the marine propulsion and energy sectors. Through its defence-related activities...
LiftSystem, developed through a $1.3 billion System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract from Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation . Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
. This requirement was met on 20 July 2001.
Design and development
Instead of employing lift engines or rotating nozzles on the engine fan like the Harrier, the "LiftSystem" employs a shaft-driven LiftFan, patented by Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
and developed by Rolls-Royce, and a thrust vectoring
Thrust vectoring
Thrust vectoring, also thrust vector control or TVC, is the ability of an aircraft, rocket or other vehicle to manipulate the direction of the thrust from its engine or motor in order to control the attitude or angular velocity of the vehicle....
nozzle for the main engine exhaust that provides lift and can also withstand reheat
AfterBurner
The AfterBurner is a lighting solution for the Game Boy Advance system that was created by Triton-Labs.Originally, portablemonopoly.net was a website created to petition Nintendo to put some kind of light in their Game Boy Advance system...
in conventional flight to achieve supersonic speeds. The system has more similarities to the Russian Yakovlev Yak-141
Yakovlev Yak-141
The Yakovlev Yak-141 , also known as the Yak-41, is a supersonic vertical takeoff/landing fighter aircraft designed by Yakolev. It did not enter production.-Design and development:...
and German EWR VJ 101D/E
EWR VJ 101
-See also:-Bibliography:* Rogers, Mike. VTOL: Military Research Aircraft. New York: Orion Books, 1989. ISBN 0-517-57684-8.* Winchester, Jim. "EWR-Sud VJ 101C ". X-Planes and Prototypes. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2005. ISBN 1-904687-40-7....
than the preceding generation of STOVL designs to which the Harrier belongs.
The entire team responsible for developing the propulsion system includes Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop. The company was the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world as of 2010, and the largest builder of naval vessels. Northrop Grumman employs over...
, BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce, under the leadership of the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
Joint Strike Fighter Program Office. Paul Bevilaqua
Paul Bevilaqua
Paul Bevilaqua is an aeronautics engineer at Lockheed Martin in California. In 1990, he invented the lift fan for the Joint Strike Fighter F-35B along with fellow Skunk Works engineer Paul Shumpert.-Life and career:...
, Chief Engineer of Lockheed Martin Advanced Development Projects at their Skunk Works
Skunk works
Skunk Works is an official alias for Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs , formerly called Lockheed Advanced Development Projects. Skunk Works is responsible for a number of famous aircraft designs, including the U-2, the SR-71 Blackbird, the F-117 Nighthawk, and the F-22 Raptor...
, is credited the lift fan for the Joint Strike Fighter F-35B
F-35 Lightning II
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, fifth generation multirole fighters under development to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions with stealth capability...
with being responsible for the initial development of the LiftSystem although the concept of a shaft-driven lift-fan dates back to the mid-1950s. Both the US and the UK investigated lift fan designs.
While the F-35B's primary powerplant is the Pratt & Whitney F135
Pratt & Whitney F135
The Pratt & Whitney F135 is an afterburning turbofan developed for the F-35 Lightning II single-engine strike fighter. The F135 family has several distinct variants, including a conventional, forward thrust variant and a multi-cycle STOVL variant that includes a forward lift fan...
, specifically derived from the F119-PW-100
Pratt & Whitney F119
|-See also:-External links:* *...
, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) awarded General Electric and Rolls-Royce a $2.1 billion contract to jointly develop the F136
General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136
The General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 is an advanced turbofan engine being developed by General Electric and Rolls-Royce plc for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.-Development:...
engine as an alternative, and the LiftSystem has been designed for interchangeability between the two engines. However, it is expected that a further $1.3 billion would be needed to complete the development of the F136 and there is some doubt about its future: the DOD proposals for terminating the F136 in its FY2007 and FY2008 budgets were rejected by Congress on both occasions, but DOD has again requested termination in its FY2009 budget proposal.
Operation
- LiftFan
- Engine to fan driveshaft
- Three-bearing swivel module (3BSM)
- Roll posts (two)
The configuration of the propulsion system is somewhat like a vertical ducted turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
embedded into the centre of the aircraft's fuselage. The three-bearing swivel module (3BSM) is a thrust vectoring nozzle at the tail of the aircraft which allows the main turbofan
Turbofan
The turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion. A turbofan combines two types of engines, the turbo portion which is a conventional gas turbine engine, and the fan, a propeller-like ducted fan...
cruise engine exhaust to pass either straight through with reheat capability for forward propulsion in conventional flight, or to be deflected downward to provide aft vertical lift.
In "lift" mode for assisted vertical manoeuvers, 28,000 hp of power is diverted forward through a driveshaft from the engine's low-pressure (LP) turbine via a clutch and bevel-gearbox
Bevel gear
Bevel gears are gears where the axes of the two shafts intersect and the tooth-bearing faces of the gears themselves are conically shaped.Bevel gears are most often mounted on shafts that are 90 degrees apart, but can be designed to work at other angles as well...
to a vertically-mounted, contra-rotating
Contra-rotating
Contra-rotating, also referred to as coaxial contra-rotating, is a technique whereby parts of a mechanism rotate in opposite directions about a common axis, usually to minimise the effect of torque. Examples include some aircraft propellers, resulting in the maximum power of a single piston or...
lift fan located forward of the main engine. The fan efflux (low-velocity unheated air) discharges through a thrust vectoring nozzle on the underside of the aircraft, thus balancing the aft lift generated by the 3BSM. Owing to the significant increase in LP turbine expansion ratio, implied by the large power off-take, the exhaust of the turbofan is switched from a mixed to unmixed configuration. For lateral stability and roll control
Flight dynamics
Flight dynamics is the science of air vehicle orientation and control in three dimensions. The three critical flight dynamics parameters are the angles of rotation in three dimensions about the vehicle's center of mass, known as pitch, roll and yaw .Aerospace engineers develop control systems for...
, bypass
Bypass duct
A bypass duct is an annular passage that allows some of a turbofan's airflow to bypass the engine core, or gas generator. If the turbofan is unmixed, the bypass duct will terminate at the bypass nozzle...
air from the engine goes out through a pair of roll-post nozzles in the wings on either side of the fuselage. For pitch control
Flight dynamics
Flight dynamics is the science of air vehicle orientation and control in three dimensions. The three critical flight dynamics parameters are the angles of rotation in three dimensions about the vehicle's center of mass, known as pitch, roll and yaw .Aerospace engineers develop control systems for...
, the areas of exhaust nozzle and LiftFan inlet are varied conversely to change the balance between them while maintaining their sum, and with constant turbine speed. Yaw control
Flight dynamics
Flight dynamics is the science of air vehicle orientation and control in three dimensions. The three critical flight dynamics parameters are the angles of rotation in three dimensions about the vehicle's center of mass, known as pitch, roll and yaw .Aerospace engineers develop control systems for...
is achieved by yawing the 3BSM. Forward, and even backward, motion is controlled by tilting the 3BSM and LiftFan outlet.
The following indicates the component thrust values of the system in lift mode:
| 3BSM (dry thrust) | |Roll posts (combined) | |Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18,000 lbf (80 kN) | 20,000 lbf (89 kN) | 3,900 lbf (17 kN) | 41,900 lbf (186 kN) |
In comparison, the maximum thrust of the Rolls-Royce Pegasus
Rolls-Royce Pegasus
The Rolls-Royce Pegasus is a turbofan engine originally designed by Bristol Siddeley, and now manufactured by Rolls-Royce plc. This engine is able to direct thrust downwards which can then be swivelled to power a jet aircraft forward. Lightly loaded, it can also manoeuvre like a helicopter,...
11-61/F402-RR-408, the most powerful version of the Harrier's engine is 23800 pound-forces (105.9 kN).
Like lift engines, the added LiftSystem components are dead weight during flight, but the advantage of employing the LiftSystem is that its greater lifting power increases takeoff payload by an even larger amount. Also, the fan's cool efflux reduces the harmful effects of hot, high-velocity air which can harm runway pavement or an aircraft carrier deck.
Engineering challenges
While developing the LiftSystem many engineering difficulties had to be overcome, and new technologies exploited.The LiftFan utilises hollow-bladed titanium blisk
Blisk
A blisk is a single engine component consisting of a rotor disk and blades, which may be either integrally cast, machined from a solid piece of material, or made by welding individual blades to the rotor disk. The term is used mainly in aerospace engine design. The word is a portmanteau of blade...
s (a bladed disk or "blisk" achieved by super-plastic forming of the blades and linear friction welding
Friction welding
Friction welding is a class of solid-state welding processes that generates heat through mechanical friction between a moving workpiece and a stationary component, with the addition of a lateral force called "upset" to plastically displace and fuse the materials...
to the blisk hub). Organic matrix composites are used for the interstage vanes. The LiftFan must safely function in a 250 knots (136.1 m/s) crosswind, which occurs at its intake when the aircraft transitions between forward flight and hover.
The clutch mechanism, which uses dry plate carbon–carbon technology originally derived from aircraft brakes, needs the ability to transfer 29000 shp without chatter or wear while ensuring high life.
The gearbox has to be able to operate with interruptions to its oil supply of up to a minute while transferring full power through 90 degrees to the LiftFan.
The Three-Bearing Swivel Module has to both support the final hot thrust vectoring nozzle and transmit its thrust loads back to the engine mounts. A new word, "fueldraulics", was coined by the engineers to define the power system of the 3BSM's actuators, which uses fuel pressurised to 3,500 lbf/in2 rather than hydraulic fluid to reduce weight and complexity. One actuator travels with the swivel nozzle, moving through 95 degrees while subject to intense heat and vibration.
Testing
During concept definition of the Joint Strike Fighter, two Lockheed airframes were flight-tested: the Lockheed X-35A (which was later converted into the X-35B), and the larger-winged X-35C, with the STOVL variant incorporating the Rolls-Royce LiftFan module.LiftSystem flight testing commenced in June 2001, and on 20 July that year the X-35B became the first aircraft in history to perform a short takeoff, a level supersonic dash and vertical landing in a single flight. By the time testing had been completed in August, the aircraft had achieved 17 vertical takeoffs, 14 short takeoffs, 27 vertical landings and five supersonic flights. During the final qualifying Joint Strike Fighter flight trials, the X-35B took off in less than 500 feet (152.4 m), transitioned to supersonic flight, then landed vertically.
Ground tests of the F136/LiftSystem combination were carried out at the General Electric facility in Peebles, Ohio
Peebles, Ohio
Peebles is a village in Adams County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,739 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
in July 2008. On 18 March 2010, a STOVL equipped F-35B performed a vertical hover and landing demonstration at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Lexington Park, MD.
Collier Trophy award
In 2001, the LiftSystem propulsion system was awarded the prestigious Collier TrophyCollier Trophy
The Collier Trophy is an annual aviation award administered by the U.S. National Aeronautics Association , presented to those who have made "the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space...
, in recognition of "the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America", specifically for "improving the performance, efficiency and safety of air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year."
Specifications (LiftSystem)
Main engine:- Two options:
Pratt & Whitney F135
Pratt & Whitney F135
The Pratt & Whitney F135 is an afterburning turbofan developed for the F-35 Lightning II single-engine strike fighter. The F135 family has several distinct variants, including a conventional, forward thrust variant and a multi-cycle STOVL variant that includes a forward lift fan...
- 17600 pound-forces (78.3 kN) dry thrust
Fighter Engine Team General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136
General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136
The General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 is an advanced turbofan engine being developed by General Electric and Rolls-Royce plc for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.-Development:...
- 18000 pound-forces (80.1 kN) dry thrust
Components:
LiftFan
- Two-stage contra-rotating hollow titanium bliskBliskA blisk is a single engine component consisting of a rotor disk and blades, which may be either integrally cast, machined from a solid piece of material, or made by welding individual blades to the rotor disk. The term is used mainly in aerospace engine design. The word is a portmanteau of blade...
fan of 50 inches (1.3 m) diameter. Uppermost fan fitted with variable inlet guide vanes. Capable of generating more than 20000 pound-forces (89 kN) cold thrust
Three-bearing swivel module
- Able to rotate through 95 degrees in 2.5 seconds and vector 18000 pound-forces (80.1 kN) dry thrust in lift mode, with reheat capability in normal horizontal attitude
Roll posts
- Two: hydraulically actuated
See also
- Boeing X-32Boeing X-32The Boeing X-32 was a multi-purpose jet fighter in the Joint Strike Fighter contest. It lost to the Lockheed Martin X-35 demonstrator which was further developed into the F-35 Lightning II.-Background:...
- XV-4 Hummingbird
- Rolls-Royce RB108Rolls-Royce RB108|-See also:-Bibliography:*Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9-External links:*****...
- Rolls-Royce Thrust Measuring RigRolls-Royce Thrust Measuring RigThe Rolls-Royce Thrust Measuring Rig was a pioneering vertical take-off and landing aircraft developed by Rolls-Royce in the 1950s. The TMR used two Nene turbojet engines mounted back-to-back horizontally within a steel framework, raised upon four legs with castors for wheels...
- Yakovlev Yak-38Yakovlev Yak-38The Yakovlev Yak-38 was Soviet Naval Aviation's first and only operational VTOL strike fighter aircraft, in addition to being its first operational carrier-based fixed-wing aircraft...
Related lists
External links
- Pratt & Whitney F135 - Project milestones
- Rolls-Royce - LiftSystem
- GovExec: The engine that could
- The man with the fan
- Paul M. Bevilaqua : The shaft driven Lift Fan propulsion system for the Joint Strike Fighter DTIC.MIL Word document, 5.5 MB. Date: 1997.