TEST VERSIONS – Ramjet, Prone pilot, Rascal, towed
Details as F-80A (P-80A) unless otherwise indicated
Tow bar with hook link fitted to upper nose
1 x F-80A airframe (44-84995) modified
for towing tests to increase range in
support of bomber operations, tests
were conducted at Wright Field, Ohio,
USA during 1947 with a B-29 tow ship
Towed F-80A
Details as F-80B (P-80B) unless otherwise indicated
1 x F-80B modified as GAM-63 Rascal missile guidance/systems testbed
Additional ventral fin
Extended jet pipe
Ventral smoke generator
Modified drop tanks
Revised nosecone
with GAM-63 Rascal
Missile radar
Guidance fins at mid span
Under nose antenna
F-80B Rascal missile testbed
Details as F-80A (P-80A) unless otherwise indicated
Armament stripped out and nose
section converted for second prone
position cockpit
1 x F-80A airframe (44-85044)
converted for testing tolerance
to high 'g' loads on a pilot in a
prone position
Upper entry hatch
Basic flight controls in
forward cockpit, with a
tray mounted joy stick
either side of the pilot,
right stick controlling
vertical attitude, left
stick horizontal attitude
Safety pilot in standard cockpit handled
take-off, landings and operation of flaps
and speed brakes under prone pilot's
instruction
Prone Pilot P-80A
Additional antenna
Additional nose pitots
Details as F-80A (P-80A) unless otherwise indicated
2 x F-80A airframes (44-85214,
44-85042) modified for ramjet
assisted flight tests in 1947;
44-85214 with 76 cm (36 in)
units on each wingtip, flying
from Muroc, California, USA;
44-85042 with 51 cm (20 in)
units flying from Wright Field,
Ohio, USA;
program terminated due to
excessive fuel consumption
76 cm (30 in) diameter Marquardt C30-10B ramjet on
wing tips (44-85214);
51 cm (20 in) diameter Marquardt C20-85D ramjet on
wing tips (44-85042)
Strengthened tail and tailplanes
Fuel tank repositioned for
additional seat behind pilot
Conventional fuel used
for both ramjet and
main turbojet engine
Ramjet F-80
ILLUSTRATIONS: © ADRIAN DAVID MOORE 2015 • NO ITEMS MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER
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ILLUSTRATIONS: © ADRIAN DAVID MOORE 2015
