View source for Engineering:Schweizer X-26 Frigate

{{short description|X-plane programs}}
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{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
| name = X-26 Frigate
| image = File:X-26 sailplane.jpg
| caption = An X-26A sailplane on display at the 1984 NAS Patuxent River Air Show
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
| type = Research and training aircraft
| national origin = United States
| manufacturer = Schweizer
| designer = Ernie and William Schweizer
| first flight = July 1967
| introduced = 
| retired = 
| status = 
| primary user = United States Navy
| number built = 7?
| developed from = [[Engineering:Schweizer SGS 2-32|Schweizer SGS 2-32]]
| variants with their own articles = 
}}
|}

The '''X-26 Frigate''' is the longest-lived of the X-plane programs. The program included the X-26A Frigate sailplane and the motorized X-26B Quiet Thruster versions: QT-2, QT-2PC, and QT-2PCII. All were based on the [[Engineering:Schweizer SGS 2-32|Schweizer SGS 2-32]] sailplane.

== Development ==
The '''X-26A''' was used by the United States Navy to train test pilots in the condition of [[Physics:Inertia coupling|yaw/roll coupling]]. Since [[Engineering:Jet aircraft|jet]] trainers were known to be dangerous in this condition, the X-26 was based on the Schweizer SGS 2-32 sailplane. Sailplanes react much slower and are easier to control than jet aircraft, making the X-26 a much safer training platform. Four aircraft were originally ordered. Three of the original planes crashed. The Navy purchased a replacement for each of the crashed units.

==Operational history==
[[File:A left front view of an X-26 glider aircraft parked on a ramp - DPLA - 574191cee3546161aa541afba0cde2da.jpeg|thumb|right|250px|X-26 glider circa 1983]]
Two Schweizer 2-32s, 67-15345 and 67-15346, from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School X-26 Program, were modified to QT-2 configuration (QT for Quiet Thruster) by the Lockheed Missiles & Space Company and civil registered as N2471W and N2472W. In 1967 the aircraft were modified by adding a Continental O-200 engine, V-Belt RPM reduction system, four-bladed Fahlin fixed pitch wooden propeller, and associated airframe upgrades.

After demonstrating quiet flight,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airfields-freeman.com/CA/Airfields_CA_SanLuisObispo.html#hacienda |title=San Luis Obispo area |first=Paul |last=Freeman |website=www.airfields-freeman.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701093255/http://www.airfields-freeman.com/CA/Airfields_CA_SanLuisObispo.html |archive-date=2014-07-01}}</ref> the aircraft were again modified to military QT-2PC configuration, known only as Tail Numbers "1" and "2",  with [[Engineering:Avionics|avionics]] and [[Biology:Camouflage|camouflage]] for night operation. They were successfully evaluated in [[Place:Southeast Asia|Southeast Asia]] under the Prize Crew OpEval program for covert ([[Engineering:Stealth aircraft|"stealthy"]]) tactical airborne observation in the spring of 1968 (during Têt). The two QT-2PCs were returned to the Test Pilot School in 1969 and re-designated X-26Bs.

The #1 QT-2PC was re-designated "67-15345" and the #2 aircraft was used for spare parts. The original X-26 glider version was then designated X-26A.

Lockheed continued the covert airborne surveillance program with one Q-Star (House Test Aircraft) and eleven pre-production [[Engineering:Lockheed YO-3|YO-3A]]s.

==Surviving aircraft==
{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
 | name    = QT-2PC, QT-2PCII, and X-26B
 | image   = QT-2PCs in STAAF, RVN Hangar c1968.jpg
 | caption = QT-2PC #1 in the Soc Trang, RVN Army Airfield Hangar in 1968
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
 | type            = Experimental Covert Reconnaissance Aircraft
 | national origin = United States
 | manufacturer    = SACUSA and LMSC
 | designer        = 2-32: Bill and Ernie Schweizer<br />QT-2 and its variants: Stanley Hall
 | first flight    = QT-2: July, 1967, QT-2PC: Dec, 1967
 | introduced      = 1967
 | retired         = 1969 as X-26B
 | status          = #1: Unknown. #2 Operational as a glider at Mile High Gliding
 | primary user    = Tri-Service (USA, USAF, USN, and USMC)
 | number built    = 2 (QT-2 & QT-2PC/X-26B)
 | developed from  = SGS 2-32
 | variants with their own articles =
}}
|}

Both of the aircraft from the original QT-2 / X-26B program survive today.  The X-26B aircraft known as QT-2 N2471W and QT-2PC #1 is located (as of 2019) in the collection of the US Army Aviation Museum at Ft. Rucker AL.  The original N number N2471W was reassigned in 2019 to another Schweizer SGS 2-32 glider, (serial #7, formerly N2758Z) owned by Mile High Gliding of Boulder Colorado.

The second X-26B aircraft known as QT-2 N2472W and QT-2PC #2 was restored to SGS 2-32 configuration and has been operated for many years (and known as "72 Whiskey") for paid scenic rides at Mile High Gliding in Boulder, Colorado.<ref>[http://www.milehighgliding.com www.milehighgliding.com]</ref>

The Q-Star was the first aircraft to use a [[Engineering:Wankel engine|rotary combustion chamber (Wankel) engine]].{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} It is currently{{When|date=May 2011}} being returned to flight status.

The [[Engineering:Lockheed YO-3|YO-3A]]s were tactically evaluated in Southeast Asia from mid-1969 to late 1971. They were later used by the Louisiana Dept of Wildlife & Fisheries (LDWF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in law enforcement, and by [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] for scientific applications.

YO-3A 69-18005 is on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.
YO-3A 69-18006 is on display at the Pima Air and Space, Tucson AZ.
YO-3A 69-18007 is in storage at the Western Museum of Flight in Torrance, California. As of 2014, YO-3A 69-18010 (NASA 818) is in flyable storage at [[Organization:Armstrong Flight Research Center|Armstrong Flight Research Center]].

=== Accidents ===
* U.S. Navy 157932 crashed March 1971, pilot killed.<ref name="Baugher">{{cite web |url= http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries20.html |title= US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos |access-date= 2014-08-06 }}</ref>
* U.S. Navy 157933 crashed May 18, 1972, pilot killed.<ref name="Baugher"/>

==Specifications (X-26A Frigate)==
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
<!-- if you do not understand how to use this template, please ask at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Aircraft -->
|crew=two
|length ft=26
|length in=9
|length m=7.92 
|span ft=57
|span in=1.5
|span m=17.37 
|height ft=9
|height in=3
|height m=2.74 
|wing area sqft=180 
|wing area sqm=16.7 
|more general=
*'''Wing aspect ratio:''' 18
|empty weight lb=857 
|empty weight kg=389 
|gross weight lb=1,430 
|gross weight kg=650 
|max speed mph=158 
|max speed kmh=254 
|more performance=*'''Rate of sink:''' 0.6 m/s (120 ft/min)
|wing loading kg/m2=39 
|wing loading lb/sqft=7.9 
|power/mass=0.07 hp/lb (0.12 kW/kg)
}}

==Specifications (X-26B and QT-2PC)==
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp

|crew= two
|length ft= 30
|length in= 9
|length m= 9.33 
|span ft= 57
|span in= 1.5
|span m= 17.37 
|height ft= 9
|height in= 3
|height m= 2.74 
|wing area sqft= 185 
|wing area sqm= 16.7 
|more general=
*'''Propeller:''' Ole Fahlin four-blade, 8 inch chord, fixed-pitch 100 inch diameter
*'''Wing aspect ratio:''' 18
*'''Fuel Capacity:''' 20 gallons (nominal)
|gross weight lb= 2,500 
|eng1 name= Continental O-200
|eng1 hp= 100 
|eng1 kw= 75 
|eng1 type= horizontally opposed 4-cylinder air-cooled engine
|eng1 number= 1
|ceiling ft= 13,000 
|climb rate ftmin= 200 
|more performance=*'''Flight endurance:''' Planned = 4+ hours; demonstrated = 6.7+ hours
*'''Quiet cruise speed:''' 70 - 80 mph
|power/mass=hp/lb (kW/kg)
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent|
|related=
* [[Engineering:Schweizer SGS 2-32|Schweizer SGS 2-32]]
* [[Engineering:Lockheed YO-3|Lockheed YO-3]] quiet surveillance aircraft
* Ling-Temco-Vought L450F [[Engineering:Turboprop|turboprop]] record setting aircraft
|similar aircraft=
* [[Engineering:Scheibe Falke|Scheibe SF25C]]
|lists=<!-- related lists -->
* [[Engineering:List of experimental aircraft|List of experimental aircraft]]
|see also=
}}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* [https://history.nasa.gov/monograph31.pdf American X-Vehicles] (.pdf)
{{Include-NASA}}

==External links==
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/x-26.htm X-26A Frigate (Schweizer SGS 2-32) / X-26B (Lockheed)] at GlobalSecurity.org
* [http://www.historynet.com/lockheeds-combined-sailplane-slow-turning-propeller.htm Lockheed’s Combined Sailplane & Slow-Turning Propeller] at HistoryNet.com
* [http://www.prizecrew.org/ QT-2PC PRIZE CREW]

{{X-planes}}

[[Category:Glider aircraft]]
[[Category:Mid-wing aircraft]]

{{Sourceattribution|Schweizer X-26 Frigate}}