Kings of the swingers: Top 13 swing-wing aircraft
As the operators of Europe’s Panavia Tornado mark the 40th
anniversary of its first flight, we bring together a baker’s dozen
of variable geometry aircraft – most of which made it into
operational service.
anniversary of its first flight, we bring together a baker’s dozen
of variable geometry aircraft – most of which made it into
operational service.
Panavia Tornado
Panavia
Europe’s Panavia consortium delivered more than 990 production
examples of the variable geometry Tornado between 1979 and
1998 to the air forces of partner nations Germany, Italy and the
UK, plus lone export customer Saudi Arabia. Some 362
operational Tornados remain in use, according to Flightglobal’s
MiliCAS database, with Germany’s Luftwaffe having the largest
active fleet, at 123 aircraft. An air defence variant of the type is no
longer in use.
examples of the variable geometry Tornado between 1979 and
1998 to the air forces of partner nations Germany, Italy and the
UK, plus lone export customer Saudi Arabia. Some 362
operational Tornados remain in use, according to Flightglobal’s
MiliCAS database, with Germany’s Luftwaffe having the largest
active fleet, at 123 aircraft. An air defence variant of the type is no
longer in use.
General Dynamics F-111
Commonwealth of Australia
The last operational examples of the General Dynamics F-111
left Royal Australian Air Force service in December 2010.
Nicknamed “Aardvark”, the type is memorable for its
signature air show special: the “dump and burn”. The US Air
Force was the main operator of the type, with its fleet at one
time also including the EF-111 Raven airborne jammer.
left Royal Australian Air Force service in December 2010.
Nicknamed “Aardvark”, the type is memorable for its
signature air show special: the “dump and burn”. The US Air
Force was the main operator of the type, with its fleet at one
time also including the EF-111 Raven airborne jammer.
Boeing B-1B
Boeing
Flown solely by the US Air Force, the Boeing (originally Rockwell)
B-1B Lancer was designed as a supersonic strategic bomber
during the Cold War era. More recently the aircraft has
gained precision-guided weapons and a targeting pod, which
has enabled it to perform duties including providing close air
support for ground troops.
B-1B Lancer was designed as a supersonic strategic bomber
during the Cold War era. More recently the aircraft has
gained precision-guided weapons and a targeting pod, which
has enabled it to perform duties including providing close air
support for ground troops.
Grumman F-14
US Navy
Immortalised in the 1986 film Top Gun and its “need for speed”,
the F-14 Tomcat was the US Navy’s main carrier-based
fighter for more than 30 years until its retirement in September
2006. The type remains in service today with the Iranian air
force, which is believed to still operate around 28 examples.
the F-14 Tomcat was the US Navy’s main carrier-based
fighter for more than 30 years until its retirement in September
2006. The type remains in service today with the Iranian air
force, which is believed to still operate around 28 examples.
AirTeamImages
Introduced more than 40 years ago with the Russian air force,
the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is recorded in Flightglobal’s
MiliCAS database as remaining in use with the air forces of
Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cuba, Ethiopia,
Kazakhstan, Libya, North Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria and Zimbabwe.
the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is recorded in Flightglobal’s
MiliCAS database as remaining in use with the air forces of
Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cuba, Ethiopia,
Kazakhstan, Libya, North Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria and Zimbabwe.
Rex Features
The Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau was also responsible for
creating the MiG-27, which remains in frontline use with the air
forces of India, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka.
creating the MiG-27, which remains in frontline use with the air
forces of India, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka.
Boeing STT
Our only commercial candidate in the swing-wing category is
Boeing’s ill-fated SST: a planned supersonic spoiler to the
Anglo-French Concorde. The US aircraft started out as a
swing-wing, but the subsequent 2707 design evolved into a
delta wing configuration. The airframer secured orders for 122
of the supersonic transports from 26 airlines, but the US
government withdrew funding for the project in 1971, and a
prototype was never finished.
Boeing’s ill-fated SST: a planned supersonic spoiler to the
Anglo-French Concorde. The US aircraft started out as a
swing-wing, but the subsequent 2707 design evolved into a
delta wing configuration. The airframer secured orders for 122
of the supersonic transports from 26 airlines, but the US
government withdrew funding for the project in 1971, and a
prototype was never finished.
Rex Features
Tupolev’s Tu-22M is one of the Russian air force’s trio of
strategic bomber types, along with its stablemates the Tu-95
and Tu-160. Nicknamed “Backfire” by NATO, more than 100 are
in use.
strategic bomber types, along with its stablemates the Tu-95
and Tu-160. Nicknamed “Backfire” by NATO, more than 100 are
in use.
Tu-160
Crown Copyright
First flown in 1981 as a counterpart to the US Air Force’s B-1
Lancer, the Tupolev Tu-160 is the frequent subject of images
showing quick reaction alert aircraft from European NATO
nations – this shot was taken from a Royal Air Force interceptor.
Our MiliCAS database records the Russian air force as having an
active fleet of just 12 of the type.
Lancer, the Tupolev Tu-160 is the frequent subject of images
showing quick reaction alert aircraft from European NATO
nations – this shot was taken from a Royal Air Force interceptor.
Our MiliCAS database records the Russian air force as having an
active fleet of just 12 of the type.
Dassault Mirage G8
First flown from Istres in May 1971, Dassault’s Mirage G8 was
an experimental design which drew on the company’s
experience from the earlier G4. The Mach 2.5-capable strike
aircraft never saw operational use.
an experimental design which drew on the company’s
experience from the earlier G4. The Mach 2.5-capable strike
aircraft never saw operational use.
AVS
Another ill-fated project – this time between the aerospace
industries of Germany and the USA – the innovative AVS
design employed not only a variable geometry wing, but also
swing-out powerplants for vertical lift. The project was
scrapped early in 1968 after running into “financial and technical”
difficulties.
industries of Germany and the USA – the innovative AVS
design employed not only a variable geometry wing, but also
swing-out powerplants for vertical lift. The project was
scrapped early in 1968 after running into “financial and technical”
difficulties.
Su-22
Rex Features
Poland is the only NATO nation to operate the Sukhoi Su-22, and
plans to retain part of its 32-strong fleet of the type in service
for at least another 10 years. Our MiliCAS database lists other
current users as including Angola, Libya, Peru, Syria, Vietnam
and Yemen, with a global fleet of just under 200.
plans to retain part of its 32-strong fleet of the type in service
for at least another 10 years. Our MiliCAS database lists other
current users as including Angola, Libya, Peru, Syria, Vietnam
and Yemen, with a global fleet of just under 200.
Su-24
Rex Features
Sukhoi also designed the heavyweight Su-24, 400 of which
remain in use today. Russia’s air force and navy account for more
than 75% of this fleet total, with Algeria and Iran among a list of
other operators.
remain in use today. Russia’s air force and navy account for more
than 75% of this fleet total, with Algeria and Iran among a list of
other operators.
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