Maybe this is a place for a new modification idea. As I recall, the space shuttle didn't have a lot of lift for a glider, but the fuselage provided a decent portion of it.
I heard someplace that when the wings were swept for the F-14, the fuselage provided 70% of the lift. That seems really high to me, but it is hard to argue that the body shape helped.
I think I saw a video on YouTube of an F-15 landing with one wing.
Done right, maybe you can modify the fuselage to be a lifting body, too. Elevator controls pitch. Rudder and P-factor control roll. No need for wings.