<hi style=afpcap>Grumman designed the X-29 as a test craft to evaluate the forward swept wing as a joint development between NASA, DARPA and the Air Force. The aircraft was fitted with a wing which was almost completely reversed from that of conventionally swept design, and was fitted with small canards for stability aft of the air intakes. Two were financed in 1982, with the first flight taking place in December 1984. The illustration shows smoke being released from ports in the nose to provide information on vortex flow at high angles of attack. Tests performed at Edwards AFB indicated that the X-29s direction could be controlled by manipulating the vortex flow. </hi>
