JOHAN VISSCHEDIJK COLLECTION
No. 7016. Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet A1 TST (98+33 c/n 0001) German Air Force
Photograph from Dornier

Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet A1 TST

10/31/2007. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "Sponsored by the Bundesministerium der Verteidigung (German Federal Ministry of Defense) Dornier converted this Alpha Jet to the TST (TransSonische Tragflügel, Transonic Wing) test bed. The object of this project was to study the aerodynamic and flight mechanical characteristics of this novel wing design and to evaluate its flight envelope, aimed at introducing a transonic wing on aircraft operating at subsonic speeds.

The TST wing was characterized by its transonic profile with a large leading edge radius, a relative flat curvature on the wing's upper surface near the leading edge and a more pronounced curvature near the trailing edge. This resulted in higher cruise speeds or payloads improvements. The TST wing had an 18% thicker profile compared to the wing of the operational Alpha Jet, a wing/fuselage transition area extended forward up to the front cockpit glazing, and special maneuver flaps.

The Alpha Jet A1 TST was first flown from Oberpfaffenhofen, on December 12, 1980. The aircraft is still on strenght at the test unit at Manching, reserialed 40+01."


Created October 31, 2007