Northrop N-102 Fang
The Northrop N-102 Fang was a fighter aircraft design created by Northrop Corporation and proposed to the United States Air Force in 1953.[1]
N-102 Fang | |
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Patent images of the N-102 design | |
Role | Light fighter |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Northrop Corporation |
Status | Project only |
Design and development
The N-102 Fang was powered by one General Electric J79 turbojet engine, though the designers believed two engines would increase the reliability and safety margin.[2][3] The pilot would have a largely unobstructed canopy because of the downward angle of the nose. The design also included swept-back wings and a tricycle landing gear. The design never entered production because the United States Air Force instead opted for the F-104 Starfighter design by Lockheed Martin.[3] However, it did loosely form the basis of the F-5 fighter family.[4]
The design was the subject of a 1957 design patent.[5]
References
- "A Rand note" (1787 to 1798). Rand Corporation. 1982: 60. Cite journal requires
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(help) - General Electric Company (1979). Seven decades of progress: a heritage of aircraft turbine technology. Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers. p. 108. ISBN 0-8168-8355-6.
- "Northrop N-102 Fang Lightweight Fighter Design Study". www.militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
- Lorell, Mark A.; Levaux, Hugh P. (1998). The cutting edge: a half century of fighter aircraft R&D. RAND Corporation. p. 114. ISBN 0-8330-2595-3.
- US 180297, "Aircraft", published 14 May 1957, assigned to Northrop Aviation