VFW VAK 191B
| VAK 191B | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| VAK 191B displayed next to a Dornier Do 31 transport | |
| Role | VTOL strike fighter |
| Manufacturer | Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke |
| First flight | 20 September 1971 |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | German Air Force |
| Number built | 3 |
The VFW VAK 191B was an experimental German VTOL nuclear strike fighter of the early 1970s. Designed and built by the Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke (VFW), it was intended to lead to a replacement for the Fiat G.91.
Contents
Design and development
The VAK 191B was produced by the German company Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke (VFW) a company formed by Focke-Wulf and Weser-Flugzeugbau. Initially, Fiat of Italy was also involved but Italy withdrew from the joint development agreement with Germany in 1967, and Fiat remained as the major sub-contractor producing wings, tailplanes and some of the fuselage. The initial programme (already altered from three single-seater and three-two seater to only single-seater aircraft to reduce development costs) was cut to three aircraft only.[1]
VAK was the abbreviation for Vertikalstartendes Aufklärungs- und Kampfflugzeug (V/STOL Reconnaissance and Strike Aircraft).
Propulsion was provided by a Rolls-Royce/MAN Turbo RB.193-12 vectored thrust engine for both lift and cruise which was augmented by two Rolls-Royce vertical lift engines.
The program was begun in 1962 to replace the Fiat G.91 ground attack fighter with a VTOL aircraft as part of NBMR-3 but NATO requirements changed and it became a technology demonstrator.
With a new project appearing - the German/American "Advanced Vertical Strike" (AVS) fighter - the VAK was "reclassified as an experimental programme"[1]
Three VAK 191B aircraft were flown in the flight test program between 1970-1975 making 91 flights. The first hovering flight was made in Bremen on 20 September 1971. The first transition from vertical flight to horizontal and vice versa was achieved on 26 October 1972 in Munich.
The prototypes were used to test some of the concepts in for the European MRCA programme (which led to the Panavia Tornado) including 'fly-by-wire' technology.
The VAK 191B was similar in concept to the British Harrier, but was designed for a supersonic dash capability (Mach number 1.2-1.4) at medium to high altitudes. It was judged that having a single engine would create too much drag, but the two lift engines were dead weight in cruise, and the small cruise engine gave a poor thrust to weight ratio. It also had very small highly loaded wings. By contrast, the Harrier had a much higher thrust-to-weight ratio, it was effective as a dogfighter, and had larger wings which were put to good use in rolling short takeoffs.
Aircraft on display
- An example of the VAK 191B can be seen at the Deutsches Museum Flugwerft Schleissheim at Oberschleißheim near Munich.[2]
- The second remaining VAK 191B is part of the Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung (Military technical collection) at Koblenz, Germany.[3]
- The third VAK 191B was reported as being put into storage in 1976.[4] Its current location is at Airbus in Bremen.[citation needed]
Operators
- German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Specifications (VAK 191B)
Data from {X-Planes and Prototypes}[5]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 16.40 m (53 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 6.16 m (20 ft 3 in)
- Height: 4.30 m (14 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 19 m² (204.44 ft²)
- Empty weight: 5,562 kg (12,236 lb)
- Loaded weight: 8,507 kg (18,715 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 9,000 kg (19,800 lb)
- Powerplant:
- 1 × Rolls-Royce/MAN Turbo RB.193-12 lift/cruise turbofan, 45.2 kN (10,150 lbf)
- 2 × Rolls-Royce RB162-81 F 08 lift turbojet, 26.5 kN (5,587 lbf) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 1,108 km/h (594 knots, 684 mph)
- Range: 400 km (216 nm, 246 mi)
- Service ceiling: 15,000 m (49,200 ft)
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
References
- Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Flight International p504
- ↑ Deutsches Museum, VAK 191B (German language) Retrieved: 16 March 2008
- ↑ www.aviation museum.eu Retrieved: 16 March 2008
- ↑ Jackson,1976. p.144.
- ↑ Winchester, Jim, X-Planes and prototypes, Barnes & Noble
- Bibliography
- Jackson, Paul A. German Military Aviation 1956-1976. Hinckley, Leicestershire, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1976. ISBN 0-904597-03-2.
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to VAK191. |
- Articles with unsourced statements from May 2010
- Commons category link is locally defined
- Abandoned military aircraft projects of Germany
- German attack aircraft 1970–1979
- German experimental aircraft 1970–1979
- VFW aircraft
- VTOL aircraft
- Single-engined jet aircraft
- Aircraft with auxiliary jet engines
- High-wing aircraft
