Dulce Base (Dulce Files Book 1) by Greg Strandberg

Author:Greg Strandberg [Strandberg, Greg]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-12-04T05:00:00+00:00

Part III

21 – The X-22

Blue Lake

Thursday, May 24, 1979

The X-22 was quite the bird, if you wanted to call it that. The first thing anyone noticed were the huge tilting ducted fans, two on the forward 22-foot wings and two on the rear 39-foot wings. Together the four three-bladed propellers gave the plane vertical and/or short take-off and landing capability, or V/STOL as it was called. The X-22 achieved that by synchronizing a wave-interconnection system with four gas turbines that were also located on the rear wings. When the turbines fired the plane could lift off, and steering was achieved by tilting the propeller blades in conjunction with the elevators and ailerons of the thrust system. Each of the turbines could produce 1,267 hp, allowing the X-22 to travel at 254 mph, or just over 400 km/h…a lot less than the 326 mph she was supposed to get by design.

Not that that mattered to any of the men standing there in awe of the craft, which looked like something most had never seen.

“The X-22 program was cancelled in 1966,” a voice said from behind them, and the men turned to see Captain Mark Richards approaching, “although that was just the official version, of course.”

“So that’s what we’ll by flying into the port in, huh?” Turn asked.

“Aye, and flying out in too…if you’re lucky.”

Mark gave the flight engineer and mission commander a hard stare, then nodded. “We can manage.”

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