Title: Variable Sweep Transition Flight Experiment
Designer: Unknown
Year it was designed: circa 1986
Explanation or story behind the patch: The Variable Sweep Transition Flight Experiment (VSTFE) project built upon previous F-111 TACT research. This time, a borrowed Navy F-14A Tomcat served as the testbed. The VSTFE natural laminar-flow investigation called for the fabrication of special gloves of fiberglass, foam, and resin around the existing F-14 wings. A glove on the left wing was used to make the airfoil more aerodynamically clean, and to provide baseline data. Researchers from NASA Langley designed an experimental glove for the right wing, tailored for the demands of specific flight conditions. The modified F-14 made 68 flights at Dryden between February 1986 and July 1987. The patch features the Grumman Tomcat mascot with its characteristic twin tails wrapped around a laminar airfoil. The traditional motto, “Anytime, Baby!” was replaced with “Smooth, Baby!” to indicate the more laminar airflow.
For more information on the Variable Sweep Transition Flight Experiment, click: https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/multimedia/imagegallery/F-14/index.html