The Convair XF-92 was the first American delta wing aircraft. Originally conceived as a point-defense interceptor, it was later made purely experimental. Its design would lead Convair to use the delta wing on a number of planes including the F-102 Delta Dagger, F-106 Delta Dart, and B-58 Hustler. The XF-92 was not the aircraft originally assigned the designation, rather a hybrid, hastily-built machine designed solely to test the delta wing planform.
In August 1945, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) requested for a supersonic interceptor capable of 700 mph speeds and reaching an altitude of 50,000 feet in four minutes. Several companies responded, and in May 1946, Convair won with their proposal for a ramjet-powered aircraft with a 45 degree swept wing. The delta wing’s thin airfoil cross section, low weight and good structural strength made a good combination for a supersonic airplane. Although the XF-92 itself might not have been well liked, the design concept clearly had promise, and the delta wing layout went on to be a standard on Convair designs through the 1950s and 60s.
In April 1948, the XF-92 was shipped to Muroc Dry Lake. Early tests were limited to taxiing, although a short hop was made on June 9, 1948. After company testing, the aircraft was turned over to the USAAF on August 26, 1949, with the testing assigned to Frank Everest and Charles “Chuck” Yeager. Yeager was the first Air Force pilot to fly the XF-92. On his first attempt, he rolled the plane off to the right on landing, with the aircraft coming to rest in a somewhat comical pose, balanced on the nose and the leading edge of the right wing. Damage was minimal and the aircraft was able to resume flight almost immediately.
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