Rockwell-MBB X-31

E20823

The Rockwell-MBB X-31 was an experimental jet fighter demonstrator designed to test advanced thrust vectoring and high-angle-of-attack maneuverability technologies.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability program 1

Statements (51)

Predicate Object
instanceOf X-plane
experimental aircraft
jet fighter demonstrator
armament none (unarmed demonstrator)
avionicsFeatures digital flight control laws for post-stall maneuvering
fly-by-wire flight control system
configuration canard-delta
single-engine
single-seat
controlSurfaces canards
thrust vectoring paddles
countryOfOrigin Germany
United States of America
surface form: United States
crew 1
designedFor enhanced agility
high angle of attack flight
post-stall maneuvering
engineCount 1
engineModel General Electric F404
surface form: General Electric F404-GE-400
firstCrashCause pitot-static system icing leading to loss of control
firstCrashDate 1995-01-19
firstFlightDate 1990-10-11
landingGear tricycle retractable
manufacturer Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm
Rockwell International
maxAngleOfAttackTested approximately 70 degrees
maxSpeedClass around Mach 1.2
notableManeuver Herbst maneuver
numberBuilt 2
operator German test organizations
NASA
United States Navy
powerplantThrustClass approximately 16,000 lbf with afterburner
primaryRole high-angle-of-attack maneuverability demonstrator
technology demonstrator
thrust vectoring testbed
programName Rockwell-MBB X-31 self-linksurface differs
surface form: Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability program
programPartners MTU Aero Engines
surface form: Deutsche Aerospace

Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)
surface form: German Federal Ministry of Defence

United States Air Force
United States Navy
propulsionType turbofan
status retired
survivingAircraftCount 1
survivingAircraftLocation Deutsches Museum
surface form: Deutsches Museum Flugwerft Schleissheim
testLocation Edwards Air Force Base
NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center
surface form: NASA Dryden Flight Research Center

Naval Air Station Patuxent River
thrustVectoring yes
thrustVectoringMethod movable exhaust paddles
wingType delta wing

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Rockwell-MBB X-31 programName Rockwell-MBB X-31 self-linksurface differs
this entity surface form: Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability program