Mary Sandy
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                   June 20 , 1990
(Phone:  202/453-2754)

Nancy Lovato
Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, Calif.
(Phone:  805/258-3448)

RELEASE:  90-84

NASA/USAF X-29 RESEARCH AIRCRAFT SET FOR PUBLIC VIEWING

     The NASA/USAF X-29 forward-swept-wing research aircraft is 
scheduled for its first public display, away from its Southern 
California base, at two major air shows in July.

     The X-29's first appearance will be at the Dayton, Ohio, air 
show from July 19-22.  Subsequently, the aircraft will be 
displayed at the Experimental Aircraft Association's 
International Convention and Sports Aviation Exhibition, Oshkosh, 
Wis., July 27-Aug. 2.

     The airplane is the first of two X-29s built to obtain 
flight information on the unusual wing design and various other 
technologies, including the extensive use of light weight, 
composite materials in the wing's construction.  Flight testing 
has proved that the forward-swept-wing design is practical.

     There will be no aerial demonstration of the X-29 at either 
air show.  NASA and Air Force personnel will be available at the 
display sites to answer questions.

     During its 4-year flight test program, the first X-29 flew 
242 missions -- a record number for an X-series high-performance 
aircraft.  It has been in storage since December 1988.  The 
second X-29 is continuing to gather data in a high 
angle-of-attack flight research program.

     The joint NASA/USAF program is managed by NASA's Ames-Dryden 
Flight Research Facility, Edwards, Calif., and the Wright 
Research and Development Center, Air Force Flight Dynamics 
Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.  The Defense 
Advanced Research Projects Agency sponsored development of the 
X-29.  Grumman Aircraft Corp., Bethpage, N.Y., manufactured the 
two aircraft.
                            - more -
                             - 2 -


     Stephen D. Ishmael, Ames-Dryden Chief X-29 Research Pilot, 
will fly the aircraft to Dayton and Oshkosh.  Other pilots 
currently flying the X-29 are NASA's Rogers E. Smith, Grumman's 
Rod Womer and Air Force Major Dana D. Purifoy.

     The X-29 is 48-feet long with a 27-foot wingspan and is 
powered by a single General Electric F404-GE-400 engine.  Its 
paint scheme, white with a broad accent stripe of dark blue on 
its fuselage and wings outlined in red, emphasizes the plane's 
unique wing configuration.

                            - end -

NOTE TO EDITORS:  A photograph is available to media 
representatives to illustrate this release by calling 
202/453-8375.

Color:  90-HC-446          B&W:  90-H-470






TO:  MDS/PRA Group
     1615 L Street, N.W. - Suite 100
     Washington, D.C. 20036

DATE & TIME:  JUNE 20, 1990

ORDERED BY:  Edward Campion
NASA Headquarters/LMD
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20546             PHONE:  202/453-8400

PROJECT TITLE:  Release No:  90-84

PRINT ORDER:  2271

PRINTING:  Camera Ready, lst pg on NASA logo, other pages plain

ENCLOSE & MAIL:  Release of 2 pages

MAIL DATE:  JUNE 21, 1990

EXTRA COPIES:    Deliver specified quanities to locations below:

    50 copies                275 copies            75 copies
--------------------     -------------------    -----------------
National Press Club      NASA Mailroom           NASA Newsroom
13th floor newsrack      NASA Headquarters       NASA Headquarters
National Press Building  600 Independ. Ave, SW   400 Maryland Ave, SW
529 14th Street, NW      Room A16                Room 6043
Washington, DC 20045     Washington, DC 20546    Washington, DC 20546


MEDIA SUMMARY OPTION:  Name-by-name media summary - 1 copy

CLIENT COMPUTER LISTS:  Run the following:
LS-CA, LS-FA, LS-GA*27E, LS-KA


TYPE OF RELEASE & PIX:  General news X 21:T-23:T

PUT ADDRESSING ON:  Self-mailer

MEDIA SELECTION:


END OF ORDER FORM

END OF TRANSMISSION