AX Aircraft, Edwards Air Force Base, California

Description

OF NEWSFILM RELEASE OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (PUBLIC AFFAIRS) AMERICA WASHINGTON, D.C. - 20301 STATES OF PLEASE NOTE DATE A-X AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 7, 1972 OXford 7-6161 Number 36-72 Footage: 60' 16mm Color Print (UA" Room 2 E 773 Wind) Time: 1:44 (Official U. S. Air Force Film Released by the Department of Defense) The A-X, the first Air Force aircraft designed right from the start to pro- vide close air support of friendly ground forces, is nearing completion for the Air Force flight evaluation, the Air Force announced today. In the first sequence is the A-9A aircraft, developed by the Northrop Corp. Hawthorne, California. The A-9A is a high-wing, single-place aircra ft powered by two Avco Lycoming Division F-102 engines, each delivering more than 7,000 pounds of thrust. The A-9A is 5312 feet in length, has a wingspan of 58 feet, and is 17 feet in height. The second sequence shows the A-10A, developed by Fairchild Industries, Farmingdale, New York. The A-10A is a single-place, low-wing, twin-tail design powered by two General Electric TF-34 engines of approximately 9,000 pounds of thrust each. The engines are mounted on the fuselage just behind and above the wing. A-10A dimensions are 52 feet, 7 inches in length; 14 feet, 5.5 inches in height, with a wingspan of 55 feet. Both prototype aircraft have bubble canopies which give the pilot 360 degrees and excellent over-the-nose - visitility to reduce chances of a surprise attack and to provide optimum target observation and weapons delivery accuracy. For survivability in the close-air-support role, both the A 10A and the A-9A have armored cockpits, redundant flight controls, and will carry the 30mm Gatling gun. Each contractor is building two aircraft for the "fly-before-buy" development and evaluation. The Air Force flight evaluation will follow contractor flying, both to be con- ducted at the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, California. During the Air Force evaluation, each aircraft type is scheduled to complete about 120 flying hours; including 54 hours in weapons delivery, approximately 43 hours in aircraft performance and qualities, 20 hours for operational suitability, and six hours for systems tests. - More -

Collection

Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer

Series

Filmed News Releases