Operational Lessons Learned from the F/A-18E/F Total Flight Control Systems Integration Process PDF Download

Author: Robert J. Hanley
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 12

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Book Description
The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a growth version of the F/A-18 A through D model 'heritage' Hornet, first fielded in 1983. Sone of the primary design goals for the Super Hornet, included increasing the range, providing greater weapon loading flexibility increasing carrier landing bring back weight and improving survivability. Improving the survivability was addressed in various ways including reductions in radar cross section expanded self-protection systems, and enhanced maneuverability. The heritage Hornet, was the first tactical aircraft in the world to fully exploit high Angle of Attack (AOA) maneuvering in the air combat environment. The heritage Hornet, is widely known for its ability to attain and maintain high angles of attack providing the pilot with a distinct advantage in the low airspeed, high AOA arena. Hornet pilots have achieved great success by simply 'intimidating' threat aircrews. This intimidation can cause threat pilots to make grave tactical maneuvering errors in this flight regime. Despite these capabilities the heritage Hornet, has had a history of inadvertent departures from controlled flight mostly in the low speed high AOA flight regime. Heritage Hornet, pilots must always maintain situational awareness of their aircraft state (aircraft store loading in combination with perceived yaw rate and sideslip AOA and airspeed) to ensure they do not inadvertently cause one of these departures. One of the primary goals for improving the Super Hornet's maneuverability included addressing the total systems design and integration of the Flight Control System (FCS), Operational Flight Program (OFP), and Mission Computers (MC) in order to optimize the control effectors in all phases of flight, including failure modes and battle damage.