3. TEST AIRPLANE DESCRIPTIONS
The X-29A research airplane integrated several technologies, e.g., a forward-swept, aeroelastically tailored composite wing and a close-coupled, all moving canard. Furthermore, the wing, with a 29.27 degree leading-edge sweep and thin, supercritical airfoil, is relatively simple employing full-span, double-hinged, trailing-edge flaperons which also provide discrete variable camber. All roll control is provided by these flaperons, as the configuration does not use spoilers, rolling tail, or differential canard. The airplane has three surfaces used for longitudinal control: all moving canards, symmetric wing flaperons, and aft-fuselage strake flaps. The lateral–directional axes are controlled by differential wing flaperons (ailerons) and a conventional rudder. The left and right canards are driven symmetrically and operate at a maximum rate of approximately 100 degree/sec through a range of 60 degrees....