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Description
Here's an aircraft concept that I envisioned which I call the EVG (Extended Variable-Geometry) wing. In essence, this is just an extension of the standard variable-geometry wing design as seen in the F-14 Tomcat, F-111 Aardvark, Tornado, and Tu-160 Blackjack. In these aircraft, the wing sweep can be modified from a nearly straight configuration at low speeds to a highly swept configuration at high speeds. The EVG wing adds another configuration to this: the forward swept wing. Here's an overview of the EVG wing's configurations:

Rearward-swept Configuration - In BVR (Beyond Visual Range) combat, it is important for an aircraft in the modern era to have a small RCS (radar cross section). In addition to radar-absorbing materials, "purpose-shaping" can also be used to lower the RCS of an aircraft. Purpose-shaping incorporates design elements into an aircraft that reflect incoming radar waves away from the source that sent them. The highy swept wings of the F-117 are designed to do just this. In an EVG wing, the rearward-swept configuration allows for a relatively reduced RCS in the frontal hemisphere by reflecting radar waves to the side, just as in the F-117. The rearward-swept configuration also reduces drag on the aircraft, which allows it to achieve maximum speed.

Straight Configuration - The ability to take-off at a relatively slow airspeed can be useful when only short runways are available. The same is true when an aircraft is able to land at a relatively slow airspeed. The straight configuration allows for this. With the wings fully extended, the amount of lift they generate is maximized. This decreases the stall speed, which allows the aircraft to travel at a lower speed and yet still remain in the air. The ability to travel at low speed can be helpful in precision ground attack exercises as well.

Forward-swept Configuration - In WVR (Within Visual Range) combat, it is important for an aircraft to have a high level of maneuverability. Forward-swept wings give an agility advantage over rearward-swept wings of the same area, which makes them useful in such circumstances. Using this configuration in combination with thrust-vectoring nozzles on the engines would greatly improve the aircraft's maneuvering envelope.

Drawback #1 - If an EVG winged aircraft is in the rearward-swept configuration and the pilot wants to transfer to the forward-swept configuration, the aircraft must pass through the straight configuration. The extra drag caused by the straight configuration relative to the other two configurations would cause the aircraft to either slow down, burn more fuel, or both. This may be a problem when passing from the BVR arena into the WVR arena, where rearward-swept and forward-swept configurations are prefered respectively. The circumstances may tell whether it is a better idea to slow the aircraft down during the configuration transformation (preferably while still in the BVR arena) and conserve fuel, or to burn extra fuel and maintain airspeed.

Drawback #2 - In classical variable-geometry aircraft designs, a considerable amount of extra weight comes from the mechanical systems that operate the wings. The makes the F-14 Tomcat heavier than the F-15 Eagle even though the two aircraft are similar in size. One way to possibly minimize this disadvantage would be to use a non-mechanical system that utilizes electromagnets to move the wings. The electromagnets could be powered by the engines. (I don't know for certain if electromagnets would be lighter than standard mechanics or not, but if someone else knows, please do tell me).

Note: These sprites were 100% custom-made by me. They were not ripped from a game, nor were they modified from official sprites. They are completely original and therefore should not be reported as a copyright violation.

Description
Here's an aircraft concept that I envisioned which I call the EVG (Extended Variable-Geometry) wing. In essence, this is just an extension of the standard variable-geometry wing design as seen in the F-14 Tomcat, F-111 Aardvark, Tornado, and Tu-160 Blackjack. In these aircraft, the wing sweep can be modified from a nearly straight configuration at low speeds to a highly swept configuration at high speeds. The EVG wing adds another configuration to this: the forward swept wing. Here's an overview of the EVG wing's configurations:

Rearward-swept Configuration - In BVR (Beyond Visual Range) combat, it is important for an aircraft in the modern era to have a small RCS (radar cross section). In addition to radar-absorbing materials, "purpose-shaping" can also be used to lower the RCS of an aircraft. Purpose-shaping incorporates design elements into an aircraft that reflect incoming radar waves away from the source that sent them. The highy swept wings of the F-117 are designed to do just this. In an EVG wing, the rearward-swept configuration allows for a relatively reduced RCS in the frontal hemisphere by reflecting radar waves to the side, just as in the F-117. The rearward-swept configuration also reduces drag on the aircraft, which allows it to achieve maximum speed.

Straight Configuration - The ability to take-off at a relatively slow airspeed can be useful when only short runways are available. The same is true when an aircraft is able to land at a relatively slow airspeed. The straight configuration allows for this. With the wings fully extended, the amount of lift they generate is maximized. This decreases the stall speed, which allows the aircraft to travel at a lower speed and yet still remain in the air. The ability to travel at low speed can be helpful in precision ground attack exercises as well.

Forward-swept Configuration - In WVR (Within Visual Range) combat, it is important for an aircraft to have a high level of maneuverability. Forward-swept wings give an agility advantage over rearward-swept wings of the same area, which makes them useful in such circumstances. Using this configuration in combination with thrust-vectoring nozzles on the engines would greatly improve the aircraft's maneuvering envelope.

Drawback #1 - If an EVG winged aircraft is in the rearward-swept configuration and the pilot wants to transfer to the forward-swept configuration, the aircraft must pass through the straight configuration. The extra drag caused by the straight configuration relative to the other two configurations would cause the aircraft to either slow down, burn more fuel, or both. This may be a problem when passing from the BVR arena into the WVR arena, where rearward-swept and forward-swept configurations are prefered respectively. The circumstances may tell whether it is a better idea to slow the aircraft down during the configuration transformation (preferably while still in the BVR arena) and conserve fuel, or to burn extra fuel and maintain airspeed.

Drawback #2 - In classical variable-geometry aircraft designs, a considerable amount of extra weight comes from the mechanical systems that operate the wings. The makes the F-14 Tomcat heavier than the F-15 Eagle even though the two aircraft are similar in size. One way to possibly minimize this disadvantage would be to use a non-mechanical system that utilizes electromagnets to move the wings. The electromagnets could be powered by the engines. (I don't know for certain if electromagnets would be lighter than standard mechanics or not, but if someone else knows, please do tell me).

Note: These sprites were 100% custom-made by me. They were not ripped from a game, nor were they modified from official sprites. They are completely original and therefore should not be reported as a copyright violation.