XSM-73 Goose
The
Development
Starting in December 1952, Fairchild began concept studies for a ground-launched long range decoy missile that could simulate strategic bombers on radar.[1]
In March 1953, the
Multiple SM-73 missiles would be ground-launched from Strategic Air Command bases located in the continental United States. The requirement was that fifty percent of the deployed SM-73 missiles could be launched within the first hour after a launch order and the remaining missiles could be launched within one more hour.Study contracts were awarded to Convair and Fairchild in July 1954 by the United States Air Force under the project designation MX-2223.
The Fairchild MX-2223 design called for a non-metallic fuselage with swept wings and a v-tail. Radar reflectors were located in the fuselage and on pods positioned on the wing tips to simulate the radar return of a bomber.
Design
In December 1955, Fairchild was awarded a contract to develop Weapon System 123A which included the SM-73 missile. American Machine and Foundry Company was responsible for the ground equipment, Ramo-Woodridge Corporation was responsible for electronic equipment, and Paul Omohundro Co who was responsible for airframe elements.
Two engine contracts were awarded by the USAF in November 1954 to minimize development risk.[5]
Each engine was in the 2,450 lbf (10.9 kN) thrust class with a thrust to weight ratio goal of 10:1. General Electric was awarded a contract for the development of the General Electric J85 and Fairchild was awarded a contract for the a competing engine the Fairchild J83. Fairchild proposed a lightweight engine of conventional design.[5]
The proposed General Electric engine had a more advanced design, involving more risk, but having a higher thrust to weight ratio. The XSM-73 was powered by the Fairchild J83 on all test flights but was also capable of using the General Electric J85. The Fairchild J83 was operating by early 1957.[5]
Like the MX-2223 design, the SM-73 utilized a non-metallic fiberglass fuselage.
Cruise speed for the SM-73 was 488 knots (562 mph). The SM-73 had a fuel capacity of 803 gal (3,040 L) of JP-4. This fuel was stored in 10 fuselage and six wing tanks.[3]
An
The SM-73 was designed to carry radar reflectors and active
Funding issues and problems with the fiberglass wing, the booster rocket, and the Fairchild J83 engine delayed testing.[1]
Test and evaluation began in February 1957 with
The United States Air Force planned to purchase 2,328 operational missiles and 53 missiles for test and evaluation.
In December 1958 the program was canceled because the missile was not able to simulate a B-52 on radar.
The SD-5 Osprey reconnaissance drone was developed with the Goose as a basis.[9]
Variants
- B-73
- Original designation in Bomber sequence
- XSM-73
- Test and Evaluation prototypes.
- SM-73
- Production Missile designation.
- Gander
- Proposed surface-to-surface version capable of carrying a 1 Mt warhead 2,000 miles (3,200 km).[10]
Operator
- United States
- United States Air Force
Survivors
- XSM-73 located in the Hagerstown Aviation Museum, Hagerstown, Maryland, United States.[11]
- XSM-73 located in the Air Force Space & Missile Museum, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, United States
- XSM-73 located in the Research & Development Gallery in the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio
- XSM-73 awaiting restoration at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- ADM-20 Quail
- ADM-141 TALD
- ADM-160 MALD
- AGM-86 ALCM
- BGM-109G Ground Launched Cruise Missile
- MGM-1 Matador
- MGM-13 Mace
- Northrop BQM-74 Chukar
- SM-64 Navaho
- XSM-74
Related lists
- List of military aircraft of the United States
- List of missiles
References
Citations
- ^ a b c d SM-73, Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles - Appendix 1: Early Missiles and Drones, by Andreas Parsch [1], retrieved November 10, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h SM-73 Bull Goose, 1997 Web Page by the Federation of American Scientists, [2], retrieved November 10, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g Fairchild B-73 Bull Goose, Fact Sheet from the National Museum of the USAF, "Fact Sheets : Fairchild B-73 : Fairchild B-73". Archived from the original on August 6, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2007., Retrieved on November 10, 2007.
- ^ Historical Essay by Andreas Parsch, Goose, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 19, 2007. Retrieved September 24, 2007.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), retrieved on November 10, 2007. - ^ a b c d e The History of North American Small Gas Turbine Aircraft Engines, William Fleming and Richard Leyes, AIAA, 1999
- ^ a b c Encyclopedia Astronautica, Cape Canaveral LC21, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved June 19, 2009.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) retrieved November 10, 2007. - ^ Encyclopedia Astronautica, Cape Canaveral LC22, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved June 19, 2009.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) retrieved November 10, 2007. - ^ GOOSE (BULL GOOSE) Fact Sheet, Cliff Lethbridge, Spaceline Website, "Cape Canaveral Rocket and Missile Programs". Archived from the original on June 10, 2007. Retrieved September 24, 2007., retrieved November 10, 2007.
- ^ Newcome 2004, p.75.
- ^ "Surface-to-Surface: Aerodynamic Cruise". Flight. 74 (2602): 881. 5 December 1958.
- ^ List of Hagerstown Aviation Museum Aircraft, "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), retrieved November 10, 2007
Bibliography
- Newcome, Lawrence R. (2004). Unmanned Aviation: A Brief History of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Reston, Virginia: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. ISBN 978-1-56347-644-0.
- Evolution of the Cruise Missile, Kenneth P. Warrell, Air University Press USAF, 1985.
- IDEAS, CONCEPTS, DOCTRINE, Basic Thinking of the United States Air Force 1907-1960, Vol 1, Robert Frank Futrell, Air University Press, 1989
- Interavia, International Aeronautic Federation, 1992.
- SM-73 Bull Goose, Web Page of Global Security.org [3]
- Technology and the Air Force A retrospective Assessment Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, 1997
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rockets and Missiles, Bill Gunston, Salamander Books Ltd, 1979
Further reading
- Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1958). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59. London: Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 303.