The swing wing was the preferred design for strategic bombing and attack aircraft in the 1960s and 1970s when the ‘Swing-Wing’ capacity to further streamline aircraft was incorporated into the future of advanced high-speed flight. An airplane wing or set of wings that can be swept back during flight and then returned to their original straight posture is referred to as a “swing-wing.” It enables the aircraft’s shape to be changed while it is in flight, making it an illustration of a variable-geometry aircraft.
Here are 10 of the most awesome swing-wing aircraft ever built.
#1. Bell X-5
The Bell Aircraft Company’s X-5 was an experimental single-seat, single-engine, jet-powered fighter design prototype. It was the first aircraft to use in-flight changeable geometry wings.
The German Messerschmitt Me P.1101 served as its inspiration, and the X-5 substantially adapted that design for its general shape. There were only ever two X-5 prototypes built, with the second being destroyed in an accident. An American/NATO initiative to develop low-cost tactical fighters was taking the X-5 program into consideration. The two aircraft flew for the first time on June 20, 1951, and December 10, 1951.
Nearly 200 flights were conducted at up to Mach 0.9 and 40,000 feet in the air. On October 14, 1953, one aircraft was lost when it was unable to recover from a spin at 60° sweepback. At Edwards Air Force Base, Air Force Captain Ray Popson perished in the collision. The other X-5 stayed at Edwards and carried out active testing there until 1955. It was then used as a pursuit aircraft until 1958.
#2. General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark
The Aardvark, whose wings could sweep from 16 degrees to 72.5 degrees, was the first variable-sweep aircraft to go into production. The swing wing of this jet wasn’t its sole ground-breaking feature, either. It also made terrain-following radar possible, enabling it to fly quickly and low to the ground. The EF-111 Raven, a swing-wing bomber, replaced the F-111 Aardvark, which had been in service with the United States Air Force from 1967 when it was retired from active duty in 1996.
#3. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
The successful MiG-27 Flogger ground strike variant was made possible by the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Flogger, the first Soviet aircraft to have variable-sweep wings. It was also the first fighter in the Soviet Union to use side-mounted air intakes and look-down or shoot-down radar. On January 4th, 1974, the MiG-23 was formally commissioned into the Soviet Air Forces for the first time. It was retired in 1998.
#4. Panavia Tornado
One of the most iconic swing-wing aircraft is the Tornado. Thrust reversers, another uncommon fighter aircraft component, are a part of the Tornado. To improve STOL capability, the reversers were attached. The Tornado is a family of the twin-engine, variable-sweep wing, multirole combat aircraft that Italy, the United Kingdom, and West Germany jointly developed and produced. British Aerospace, MBB of West Germany, and Aeritalia of Italy formed the tri-national Panavia Aircraft GmbH to design and construct the Panavia Tornado.
It took to the skies for the first time on August 14th, 1974, and entered service in 1979–1980.
#5. Sukhoi Su-24
The Soviet Union’s response to the General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark was the Sukhoi Su-24 “Fencer.” The spectacular and potent American “swing-wing” design undoubtedly served as inspiration for the Soviet design, which made an effort to imitate it with a mount that was equally capable and deserving of her airmen.
The outstanding Fencer’s career as an active member of society, which has lasted more than 35 years, is almost over because many aspects of her appearance are becoming antiquated. A total of 1,400 Su-24s in three different operational variants have been constructed by Sukhoi OKB and delivered to a small number of foreign operators.
#6. Rockwell B-1B Lancer
It has a lot of power and is the sole swing-wing aircraft in use by the US Air Force. This bomber’s payload capacity is 125,000 pounds at Mach 1.25. And with a thrust of more than 120,000 pounds, it can travel far. During Operation Desert Fox in December 1998, the B-1 made its first combat appearance supporting operations in Iraq while using unguided GP weapons.
Later, B-1s were employed in Operation Allied Force (Kosovo), Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), and, most memorably, the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
#7. Tupolev Tu-160
Since its beginnings, the Tupolev-built Tu-160 has been the largest swing-wing combat aircraft platform ever built, with the most powerful jet engines ever installed in a military aircraft. The Rockwell B-1 “Lancer” strategic bomber of the United States Air Force was directly countered by the Tu-160, which was created for a slightly different purpose: stand-off missile launching.
The B-1, on the other hand, was principally used to transport significant quantities of precision ordnance in the shape of cruise missiles and other powerful air-to-surface models. The Tu-160 began active service in April 1987 with the 184th Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment at Pryluky Air Base in the Ukrainian SSR.
#8. Tu-22M
The Tupolev Tu-22M Backfire is a swing-wing, supersonic upgrade of the Tupolev Tu-22 Blinder Medium Bomber from the 1960s. It is a specialized platform for strategic marine strikes and bombardment that primarily serves Soviet goals (both during the Cold War and even today).
The Tu-22M was an advancement over the original Tu-22 “Blinder,” which was lacking in many ways. The Tu-22M, on the other hand, increased the employment of missile weaponry, introduced supersonic flying, and had variable geometry wings, making it possible to consider it an “all-new” bomber aircraft.
#9. Su-17
The successful Su-7 “Fitter-A” fighter-bomber family line was developed into the Mach 2-capable Sukhoi Su-17 “Fitter.” The aircraft’s partial variable geometry wing (“swing-wing”) technology enhanced the former’s takeoff and landing capabilities as well as its low-level performance, which was necessary for ground assault runs.
The export Su-20 and Su-22 Fitter variants, which have different avionics, engines, and weaponry, were developed from the Su-17. A total of 2,867 Su-17/Su-20/Su-22 Fitters were produced, with over half going to Soviet export customers. Additionally, more than a dozen other countries received the type, making it a common fighter bomber throughout the Cold War.
#10. Grumman F-14 Tomcat
The F-14, which went on to become one of the most amazing Navy aircraft ever to fly, was featured in the best aviation film ever made and was capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2.34. Unlike the F-111B, which was developed from a land-based fighter-bomber aircraft, the F-14 was created from the ground up as a carrier-based fighter. The “swing-wing,” variable geometry wing assembly, radar system with support for long-range missiles, two-man crew, and twin-engine configuration are only a few of the characteristics and parts that remain in the F-111B, however, in the F-14.
Grumman produced 712 F-14s in total, from 1969 to 1991, and they were all produced by the company. For the series, non-combat attrition proved to be relatively significant, with 160 people lost in accidents alone. Today, numerous preserved F-14 Tomcats are on display in both outdoor and indoor settings all around the country.