[Llarry]

Tomcat Thursday!

During the test program for the then-new F-14A, there was some concern for what would happen if the wing sweep mechanism were to malfunction, resulting in asymmetry -- one wing swept and one not.

Accordingly, a test aircraft had the right wing fixed at the 20-degree sweep angle (all the way forward) and a flight was made with the left wing swept at various angles -- all the way back to max sweep of 68 degrees. (see photo) The conclusion was that the aircraft was still adequately controllable under those asymmetric conditions and that a carrier landing might even be possible.

Along the same lines, flights were made with the wings swept all the way back and the conclusion was that, while certainly not optimum, the F-14 could be flown with a wing sweep of 68 degrees for takeoff and landing. The stall speed in that condition was high, of course.

In any event, I am not aware that there was ever a malfunction of the wing sweep resulting in asymmetric flight.