The detailed design of the AD-1 was done by Burt Rutan, world-renowned designer and builder of unique aircraft using composite construction. The wing is capable of being swung through a maximum of 60 degrees from its initial setting at 90 degrees to the fuselage to end up only 30 degrees from the fuselage.
The oblique wing concept has the benefits of a straight wing for takeoff and landing and a swept wing at high speed. The design has two advantages over conventional swept-wing aircraft like the F-14. This concept has less drag at high speed due to the forward sweep of the wing, and has no balance problem as the wing sweeps. It does, however, have some unusual handling qualities that must be addressed via flight control computers.
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