Mike Marron wrote:
Also see: F-8 Crusader

Gord Beaman wrote:
Why?

Guy Alcala wrote:
An example of an a/c that was able to vary its wing's angle of
incidence in flight. This was presumably intended to be read as
followup to his other message, where he postulates that Al Minyard
was referring to AoI rather than AoA, but that assumes you're
familiar with the F-8. I have a slightly different reading of Al's
intent, but we can let Al tell us what he meant.

Al Minyard wrote:
Yep, I meant AoI, but my source called it AoA, so I slavishly copied
it that way.

Common error, but I knew you meant AoI not AoA.

Al Minyard:
I agree that the F-8 was somewhat unique in its ability
to vary the AoI.

Not true. Thousands (perhaps tens of thousands) of "variable
incidence" A/C (e.g: flexwing, weightshift A/C known as "trikes")
have been manufactured and are in widespread use throughout
the world as cropdusters, towplanes, aerial observation and
photography platforms, trainers, recreational and military special
forces A/C. I happen to have logged almost 2,000 hrs. in these
magical variable incidence machines myself.

Of course, trikes aren't the only variable incidence A/C, Jack
Northrop's revolutionary flying wing designs such as the XB-35
strategic bomber and XP-56 and XP-74 fighter planes were
also variable incidence. Of course, then there's the B-2 Stealth
bomber.

Unlike a conventional 3-axis A/C, the angle of incidence and
angle of attack in all of these A/C are the same during flight.
The primary difference between my own personal "variable
incidence" A/C and the B-2 with regards to stability is that
the B-2 incorporates a computerized gust load alleviation
system (GLAS) to counteract air turbulence forces whereas
I use my chest and biceps to counteract turbulence! Either
way, watching a tailless, flying wing land is pure poetry in motion
and flying one is pure sex.

Al Minyard:
Of course, with the fuselage horizontal pitch at 0, AoI equals
AoA :-)

Exactly right.

-Mike Marron