Tim Tracey's experimental aircraft project, a pusher-prop version of the iconic Star Wars "X-Wing" fighter

*Latest progress notes:

Because of flight testing with a quarter-scale glider and checking out modifications to the 13B rotary engine, little has been done on the fuselage itself since July, '03. 

Right now, the fuselage is hanging on a fully rotatable rig so I can work on the underside, and watch for unwanted flexing as the hull hangs there. The unmodded rotary engine sits alongside, the transmission is on order, and the prop will be ordered up shortly.

As of 10-12-03, I flight-tested an overweight 1300LB mock-up of my finished X-Wing in an outstanding flight sim known as X-Plane; it should be noted that this sim is extremely realistic and very unforgiving when it comes to design issues. The mock-up is as close to my calculated design as I could manage(sans gun-pods & R2-D2!)with flaps, elevators, speed brakes, drag-rudders, retractable tricycle landing gear, 100LBS of fuel, NACA symmetrical foils, the proper CG, a 200HP powerplant geared 2:1, a 3-blade inflight adjustable prop and a ballistic parachute. I am ecstatic to report that testing so far with full model realism is as follows:

Level flight(full throttle)- 280MPH
Shallow dive(full throttle)- 300MPH
Climb Rate(full throttle, shallow pitch)- 1700FPM
Stall Speed around 65MPH(still working on that one.)
Take-off profile nearing that of a Cessna 172(still working on that, also.)
70+deg banking.
Yaw-only control to 25deg.
Axial Rolls that are still too fast(Still working down the 4-point ailerons.....LOL!)
Barrel Rolls that are clean and controllable.
And a High-speed Loop. 

I figure that with proper structuring & framing of the skin/wings(carbon-fiber), and a correct drivetrain setup, ect., I should be able to realistically maintain these numbers, but I will continually test the platform to it's limits to be absolutely sure of the real-world flight characteristics. 


Basic history of the mythological Star Wars "X-Wing" fighter:

The first Star Wars movie came out in 1977, and towards the end of the movie, viewers got their first glimpse of the now fabled "X-Wing" fighter. The movies' star was Luke Skywalker, a farm-boy turned Rebel warrior that takes on the evil Empire's Death Star in his X-Wing during the climax of the movie. The fighter had shields & was capable of sub-light combat, hyperspace travel, & boasted an atmospheric capability nearing 2,500MPH. The firepower of the X-Wing was it's quad lasers, one of each positioned on rails mounted on the very ends of the four X'ed wings and also could launch 'proton torpdoes' from a slot in the side of the fuselage just below the cockpit.You may have seen the film, and if so, probably remember the little robot sitting just behind the cockpit....that was Luke's companion, R2-D2, an astro-droid that helped with navigation, hyperspace jumps, and repairing the X-Wing inflight. In atmospheric flight, the wings folded flat, and the ship hover-landed on retractable skids. The "X-Wing" was the product of the "Incom Corporation" within the confines of the movie. In a nutshell, the "X-Wing" has become one of the most, if not the most recognizable sci-fi icons to date, although most people can only look at it and say things like...."Yea, I've seen that ship before....somewhere!" 


My version of the "X-Wing" is one-half scale(20ft in length); it will have the wings fixed in the X'ed position, will have retractable landing gear, & have a pusher-prop nestled between the four large engine tubes(hollow tubes on my ship.) It will be powered by a robust Mazda rotary engine coupled to a Mazda transmission geared down 2:1(thanks for the good scoop, George!)that is further harmonically balanced to a Ivoprop Magnum inflight adjustable 3-blade propeller. Finally, my "X-Wing" will have it's own ballistic parachute(I was a parachute-rigger for the Marines for over twelve years.) Since everything is going so well, I now intend to begin lightening/strengthening the fuselage, as well as rigging it with the engine, tranny and prop assembly. I hope to spend the last part of winter making the NACA symmetrical wings. The successful flight-testing has given me motivation beyond belief.......I even asked for the N-Number to be "NXWING", but I ain't holdin' my breath! 

STAY TUNED!!!!

"This is the real Star Wars X-Wing in all her movie-glory!"

"Cockpit profile sans pilot."

"Cockpit canopy open(sure like these arm rests!)"

"X-Wing fuselage framing(200HP 13B rotary engine sits just aft of the cockpit.)"

"Another angle on the X-Wing fuselage(wings will attach just aft of the cockpit, too!)"