X-44MANTA, 1/72 scale.
Limited edition Sharkit; Price eur96
Newspage---- illustratedcatalog----back to Sharkithome page ---- orderthis kit or e-mail me
HISTORY
Known Development Stage: Design.
The X-44 was designed to testthe idea than an aircraft can be flown using controlled vectored thrustalone. The removal of a vertical tail and all other control surfaces wasexpected to reduce radar reflectivity to a minimum. Other benefits thatwere expected to be realized from this design were lower weight, reducedmechanical complexity, increased fuel efficiency and greater agility.
The X-44 MANTA was based onthe F-22 fuselage but incorporated a new full delta wing. The program wasinitiated in 1999 with flight testing expected to begin in 2007. However,recent reports now indicate that the entire program has been cancelled.
[avrocar]
THE WINGS AND BODY areone single part casting. Dimensions of this part are 24x18cm (10''x7''),without the nose probe. The nose probe is a strong steel wire embeded inthe resin.

LANDING GEAR: Thekit was initially designed as a one piece base-mounted desk-top model.However, we provide tubing and metal wire that can be folded to createlanding gear strong enough to support the model's weight.You also havethe option of using injection-molded landing gear from Italeri's YF-22Akit.

IN THE COCKPIT: We provide a one-piecepilot/ejection seat and a clear vacuform canopy. You may prefer to useanother ejection seat without the pilot; the Italeri seat is adequate,although you may be able to find a better one from another source.

left: the original sharkit Boxart.

KIT PARTS LIST: 1-body ; 2-vacuformcanopy ; 3-control panel; 4-seat and pilot ; 5-front landing gear door;6-front wheel ;
8-left landing gear door ;9-right landing gear door; 10-main wheels (2 parts); 11-nozzles (2 parts);12-rear end.
Steel wire and brass tubingfor the landing gear legs are provided.
below: detail of the instructionsheet.