A Lockheed F-80, which the YF-80 fuselage is modeled after
The YF-80 is a two-thirds scale replica of a Lockheed F-80 or T-33. The aircraft is a composite construction, single engine, low wing design with retractable tricycle landing gear. The tip tanks are removable for aerobatic flight.[2] The aircraft is powered by a Chevy 350 V-8 turbocharged engine driving a turbine thrust section. The thrust section is driven by belts with high gear ratios to drive the turbine closer to the rotational speed it was originally designed for.[3]
The aircraft project was intended to showcase the Davis engine technology with a static prototype displayed in 1977. Burt Rutan was approached to build the composite fuselage, but the US$240,000 cost estimate was declined. Davis attempted to produce a production prototype fuselage for US$80,000. By 1987 the project was not complete, resulting in a court case between investors. The prototype was re-engined with a Turbomeca Marboré II turbine engine as the Stargate YT-33.[4]
Data from Jane's all the world's aircraft, 1978-79[6]
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 17 ft 3 in (5.26 m)
Wingspan: 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m)
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Empty weight: 899 lb (408 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 1,301 lb (590 kg) with internal fuel only
Fuel capacity: 132.5 liters (35 US gallons)
Powerplant: 1 × Davis Cold Jet hybrid piston turbine, 220 lbf (0.98 kN) thrust @ 75% power
Performance
Maximum speed: 261 kn (300 mph, 483 km/h)
Stall speed: 70 kn (80 mph, 129 km/h) with flaps down
Range: 425 nmi (490 mi, 788 km) with internal fuel only
Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
g limits: +6/-3
Rate of climb: 2,600 ft/min (13 m/s) with internal fuel only
References
^Garrison, Peter (November 1977). "Homebuilder Heaven". Flying Magazine. New York, NY: Ziff-Davis Publishing Co. pp. 72–74, 133. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
