16-431: (Redirected from SX300 ) SX 300 or SX-300 may refer to: Swearingen SX-300 , an aircraft SX 300 (superalloy) , a superalloy variation of Inconel [REDACTED] Topics referred to by the same term This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title formed as a letter–number combination. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
32-545: A fatal accident during a demonstration, which ultimately diminished the interest of the military." The kit was very difficult to construct, even for experienced builders and many were not completed. It is estimated that 80 to 90 kits were sold but only 48 sets of landing gear were made. About 45 SX-300s were actually completed and flown with about 30 reportedly still flying in 2023. In a 2023 review for AVweb , Johnathan and Julia Apfelbaum concluded, "the SX300 doesn’t just look like
48-649: A thoroughbred rocket ship of an aircraft—it really is. We would have to say this aircraft is certainly one of Swearingen’s finest achievements." The design has had a high accident rate, with at least seven fatal accidents recorded by the US NTSB . At least five were also damaged in landing gear collapses due to failures of the landing gear main leg trunnions. Data from Flying General characteristics Performance [REDACTED] Media related to Swearingen SX-300 at Wikimedia Commons Wet wing A wet wing (also referred to as integral fuel tanks )
64-424: A warm wing tank) and must retain its sealing properties when submerged in fuel and when left dry for long periods of time. Because the tanks form an integral part of the structure, they cannot be removed without considerable disassembly of the overall aircraft; several access panels are also necessary to perform maintenance activities and permit inspections. Beyond the complications in the design and manufacture of
80-443: Is a high-performance homebuilt aircraft , featuring two seats and developed by Ed Swearingen during the 1980s. The aircraft was offered as a kit, but this was not a comprehensive kit like contemporary designs, and its construction was beyond the abilities of the average amateur aircraft builder. The airplane features a 300 horsepower (220 kW) six-cylinder engine. Citing the lack of advancement in aircraft performance since
96-428: Is an aerospace engineering technique where an aircraft's wing structure is sealed and used as a fuel tank . The use of wet wings has become common among civilian designs, from large transport aircraft, such as airliners , to small general aviation aircraft. Several military aircraft, such as airlifters and aerial refueling tankers , have incorporated the technique as well. A number of strike aircraft, such as
112-550: Is made from composite material and is based on Swearingen's design he employed in the Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche . The canopy is forward hinged and secured with six latches. The Lycoming IO-540 powerplant is mounted using a 7.25 in (18.42 cm) propeller extension and is offset 2° right and 1.5° down for P-factor effects. The fuel is contained in two wet wings and capacity is 30 U.S. gallons (110 L; 25 imp gal) per side. The tricycle landing gear
128-407: Is retractable rearwards and fuselage-mounted. The right hand main landing gear includes a retractable step. The aircraft is stressed for +6/-3 g . Kits went on sale in 1986 and ceased sales in 1989. The company indicated that production ended due to lack of progress in type certifying the design, but Apfelbaum indicates "the more likely reason is that a turboprop prototype shed its wings, leading to
144-447: Is stretch-formed over machine dies and then wrapped around the wing to achieve a smooth surface. The leading edge is reinforced with foam. The wing has a tapered planform, but with a straight leading edge. The fuselage has hydroformed structural members, with stringers and sheet metal covering. The wings have 3° of washout to improve the stall characteristics. The ailerons are differential and counter-weighted. The engine cowling
160-527: The Grumman A-6 Intruder , have also been furnished with wet wings. While it is technically feasible, studies have found it generally impractical to convert aircraft between wet wing and non-wet wing fuel storage. The wet wing offers several advantages. By eliminating the need for separate bladders, tanks, or other containers to house the fuel, weight savings are achieved, improving operational efficiency and performance. In comparison with other methods,
176-483: The 1930s, Swearingen started a new company to develop faster light aircraft designs. The new design was intended to be developed as a kit aircraft initially and then later to be type certified , although certification was never completed. The aircraft was designed in 1983, first flown on July 1, 1984 and initially designated as the S29-300, for Swearingen, 29th design, 300 horsepower . The official company designation for
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#1732876951922192-565: The aircraft, a wet wing necessitates ongoing maintenance activities throughout its operating life. Commonly, the sealant shall need to be replaced; the removal of old sealant (and the application of fresh) can be considerably difficult when working on a relatively small wing tank. Without appropriate maintenance, wet wings will commonly start leaking after a while, usually due to seal deterioration; however, resealing work may not be immediately successful and require multiple applications. Improved methods of sealing have been devised, reportedly extending
208-405: The likelihood of damage-related leaks, particularly in the event of a crash. A disadvantage of the wet wing is that every rivet, bolt, nut plate , hose and tube that penetrates the wing must be sealed to prevent fuel from leaking or seeping around these hardware components. This sealant must allow for expansion and contraction due to rapid temperature changes (such as when cold fuel is pumped into
224-413: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SX-300&oldid=937419393 " Category : Letter–number combination disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Swearingen SX-300 The Swearingen SX-300
240-460: The production kit aircraft is SX300 , although some owners have registered them as SX-300 and SX 300 . The SX300 is fabricated from all-metal aluminum sheet, but with an emphasis on reducing aerodynamic drag . The wings are made from 0.040 in (1.02 mm) aluminum sheet, while the tail is 0.020 in (0.51 mm) sheet, with all metal joints butt-ended rather than overlapped and secured with countersunk rivets. The wing leading edge
256-423: The wet wing maximises the structural volume available within the wings, while alternative approaches are less space-efficient. There are benefits from a safety point of view, as fuel would be discharged externally in the event of a leak, rather than within a potentially populated section of the aircraft. The thickness of the wing is typically greater than that of an individual bladder or tank, a factor which decreases
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