Accession Number:

ADA201049

Title:

Final Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on V/STOL Aircraft

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.

Corporate Author:

DEFENSE SCIENCE BOARD WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

1979-11-01

Pagination or Media Count:

169.0

Abstract:

The Task Force concludes that our priorities should be adjusted so that we no longer look for a VSTOL to replace CTOL, but rather we seek an optimum CTOL-VSTOL mix, beginning in the mid 1980s. Technology and strategy will probably dictate an evolution toward a higher VSTOL mix, including high performance supersonic types by the year 2000, and we should invest in being prepared to support that. Major conclusions include 1 The ability of the military services to conduct their respective missions can be enhanced by the timely introduction of VSTOL aircraft. The number of potential mission improvements, coupled with the need for increased survivability and operational flexibility, provides a convincing case for the accelerated development of an enhanced VSTOL capability. 2 The technology will currently support significant improvements in those aircraft configurations that are not radical departures from existing classes of VSTOL aircraft notably variants of the helicopter and of the subsonic combat aircraft, the Harrier and 3 VSTOL combat aircraft of modest subsonic capability could also evolve however, substantial technology investments must be made in order to permit a completely new high performance supersonic VSTOL combat aircraft.

Descriptors:

• *SHORT TAKEOFF AIRCRAFT
• *VERTICAL TAKEOFF AIRCRAFT
• SURVIVABILITY
• VARIATIONS
• HELICOPTERS
• CONFIGURATIONS
• WEAPON MIXES
• SUBSONIC CHARACTERISTICS
• COMBAT FORCES
• SUPERSONIC AIRCRAFT
• MILITARY AIRCRAFT
• MILITARY FORCES(UNITED STATES)
• MISSIONS

Subject Categories:

• Attack and Fighter Aircraft
• VSTOL

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE