scope:

Abstract:

The F-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle has proven to be a useful research tool with many unique capabilities. Many of these capabilities are to assist in characterizing flight at high angles of attack, while some provide significant research in their own right. Of these, the thrust vectoring system, the unique ability to rapidly reprogram flight controls, the reprogrammable mission computer, and a reprogrammable On-Board-Excitation-System have allowed an increased utility and versatility of the research conducted. Because of this multi-faceted approach to research in the high angle of attack regime, the capabilities of the F-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle were designed to cover as many high alpha technology bases as the program would allow. These included aerodynamics, controls, handling qualities, structures, instrumentation, flight avionics systems, and propulsion. To achieve these goals, new capabilities were developed to enable this research to occur some were outstandingly successful; others were not.