NDLI: F/a-18 performance benefits measured during the autonomous formation flight project

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F/a-18 performance benefits measured during the autonomous formation flight project

Content Provider	NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Author	Walsh, Kevin R. Ennix, Kimberly Vachon, M. Jake Ray, Ronald J.
Copyright Year	2003
Description	The Autonomous Formation Flight (AFF) project at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (Edwards, California) investigated performance benefits resulting from formation flight, such as reduced aerodynamic drag and fuel consumption. To obtain data on performance benefits, a trailing F/A-18 airplane flew within the wing tip-shed vortex of a leading F/A-18 airplane. The pilot of the trail airplane used advanced station-keeping technology to aid in positioning the trail airplane at precise locations behind the lead airplane. The specially instrumented trail airplane was able to obtain accurate fuel flow measurements and to calculate engine thrust and vehicle drag. A maneuver technique developed for this test provided a direct comparison of performance values while flying in and out of the vortex. Based on performance within the vortex as a function of changes in vertical, lateral, and longitudinal positioning, these tests explored design-drivers for autonomous stationkeeping control systems. Observations showed significant performance improvements over a large range of trail positions tested. Calculations revealed maximum drag reductions of over 20 percent, and demonstrated maximum reductions in fuel flow of just over 18 percent.
File Size	876985
Page Count	36
File Format	PDF
Alternate Webpage(s)	http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_20030075684
Archival Resource Key	ark:/13960/t72v7h362
Language	English
Publisher Date	2003-09-01
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	Aircraft Design, Testing And Performance Flight Tests Aerodynamic Drag Flight Conditions Aircraft Performance Fuel Consumption F-18 Aircraft Fuel Flow Formation Flying Drag Reduction Vortices Aircraft Maneuvers Mathematical Models Autonomy Thrust Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Technical Report

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