http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HFB-320_Hansa_Jet

The wikipedia article says that the poor safety record was due to pilot
error.
Maybe they forgot to fly them backwards.

On 7/28/06, *Rotary Engine* <rotaryeng@earthlink.net
<mailto:rotaryeng@earthlink.net>> wrote:

    >
    >  > Russell,
    >  > Do any aircraft use that principle to reduce wing tip vortices?
    >  > George ( down under)
    >
    > There have been a number of research projects by NASA and others
   over
    > the years. For example, see the X-29:
    >
    >
   http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/history/pastprojects/X29/index.html
    >
    > The significant stumbling block is that forward swept wings are
    > inherently unstable (a minor yaw causes a pronounced roll in the
    > *opposite* direction). The experiments have used computer-augmented
    > control to maintain stable flight behavior. The reliability
    > requirements of commercial aircraft will probably preclude using
    > computer-augmented stability, and therefore forward swept wings.
   Don't
    > even dream about it appearing in GA. It is still a possibility in
    > military aircraft.
    >
    > Russell Kent
    >
    >
    > Russell,
    > There have been several non-computer controlled aircraft with
   forward
    > sweep. Not radical forward sweep but forward sweep none the less.
   One of
    > the dornier bombers in WW2 had forward sweep as did one of Burt Rutan
    > and Roncz's collaborations.
    > Bill Jepson



   Hi guys,
   First Time I'm posting here, but I figured I had a little info to share.
   I used to build and fly RC model airplanes and a friend of mine
   wanted me to
   build him
   a forward swept wing plane from a set of plans he had.
   it had a standard fuselage and the wings started from about the  normal
   location.
   We found that the center of gravity had to be very far forward to
   maintain
   stable flight.
   He actually had to add a pretty large chunk of lead to the nose of the
   aircraft. Also they detected a
   slight instabillity when pulling out of a loop. Could possibly have
   been a
   piloting error but I don't know
   because I never got to fly it myself.
   I'll try and attach a couple of photo's of the model.
   Dan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HFB-320_Hansa_Jet

The wikipedia article says that the poor safety record was due to pilot
error.
Maybe they forgot to fly them backwards.
Jeffrey Martin

I think I have seen that airplane at the Sinshime(s?) Museum in Bavaria.