(robert arndt) wrote:

At least they have finally perfected the
F-102

(grin)

Which goes all the way back to the Lippisch DM-1/P13a aircraft of
1945.

Not to mention about a hundred odd little prototypes of one sort or
another from the previous thirty years. And a couple of Englishmen who
actually patented a delta wing design (that never flew) in the late
1860s. Yes, that's *eighteen*-sixties.

I guess all that rushed testing at Langley paid off. Another
stolen German/French idea*.

* Payen Flechair delta was captured by the Germans in 1940. Although
it didn't influence Lippisch's design, Payen deserves credit for the
delta wing. His designs were to deltas what the Hortens were to flying
wings.

Except that delta wings had been tried, on and off, for decades. They
were never that useful, due to the comparatively small engines and low
airspeeds before WWII.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

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Slam on brakes accordingly.