Has there ever been a 3-engined jet fighter/interceptor?

For some strange reason I just wondered about this today, a quick google revealed nothing, so I'll turn it over to the experts...


The nearest I got was this:

www.freepatentsonline.com...

Ok - I read your text first

It looks well cool

edit - to remove exact same link

I imagine that 3 engines would be too much for a fighter, any benefits would be countered by the increase in fuel. Perhaps as a short range very quick fighter there could be an application, but then would they ever need one of these? I imagine long range is a preferable option.

[edit on 16/11/06 by Strodyn]

I posted pretty much the same question last January and got some good answers.

Particularly so by CH 1446 - who never seems to come back and answer further questions.

Regardless, his long post was informative and educational.


Original Post

Well, there was this...

yak 141

(Yeah, I know that's not what you meant really but it does have three).

[edit on 16-11-2006 by timeless test]

I've never heard of more than 2 engines on a fighter plane. I'd say no!

Tim

Off the top of my head nothing operational but there were projects. Google 'North American NA349'. It was proposal for a three engined fighter version of the Vigilante. Also during the '50 everybody was into strapping ramjets under wings so I wouldn't be suprised if there was something like that tested.

Originally posted by timeless test
Well, there was this...

yak 141

(Yeah, I know that's not what you meant really but it does have three).

[edit on 16-11-2006 by timeless test]

The Yak-141 has a single powerplant. The VTOL capability is given through a ducted fan. Kinda like the Harrier.

Shattered OUT...

The Yak 38 had three engines. In terms of three propulsion engines however I can only currently think of the Sud Ouest Trident with its twin wingtip jets plus tail mounted rocket motor.

Thanks for the correction Waynos, I thought they meant powerplants in terms of engines.

Shattered OUT...

Originally posted by ShatteredSkies

Originally posted by timeless test
Well, there was this...

yak 141

(Yeah, I know that's not what you meant really but it does have three).

[edit on 16-11-2006 by timeless test]

The Yak-141 has a single powerplant. The VTOL capability is given through a ducted fan. Kinda like the Harrier.

Shattered OUT...

No, the Yak 141 used twin lift jets in basically the same position as those on the Yak-38, which would make it a triple engined fighter, though only one engine was used in forward flight.

And the Harrier does not use a lift fan either, it is an augmented fan arrangement. Kinda could mean a lot of things I guess.

[edit on 18-11-2006 by planeman]

Originally posted by ShatteredSkies
Thanks for the correction Waynos, I thought they meant powerplants in terms of engines.

Shattered OUT...

I wasn't correcting you Shattered. I hadn't actually given the Yak 141 any thought. I just immediately thought of the Yak 38 and the Trident as having three engines.

I thought the Yak-141 and Yak-38 were the same aircraft. Or at the very least used the same engine layout.

Right, augmented fans on the Harrier. The F-35 uses a Liftfan.

Shattered OUT...

How about a couple of F-104 variants.

F-109 VSTOL

EWR VJ 101

A couple of killer designs that never entered production