An interesting concept is embodied in the experimental aircraft NF-15B

NASA test pilot Jim Smolka immediately after takeoff from Edwards Air Base on a deeply modernized experimental aircraft NF-15B turns on an afterburner at full capacity and is sharply gaining altitude. Unfortunately, the photo captured the last flight of this car. The prototype was made in 1973 year as the first two-seater TF-15, This aircraft with front steering rudders and bright red, white and blue coloring flew in several significant research and test programs of the USAF.

As part of the research project of the Center for Flight Research. Hugh Dryden's intelligent onboard NF-15B system develops revolutionary technological ideas in the field of aircraft flight control, which could effectively optimize the capabilities of an aircraft in normal conditions and system failure conditions. The intelligent onboard system includes adaptive control concepts in flight software so that the pilot can retain control and ensure a safe landing of the aircraft, which has damaged the steering surfaces or the hull itself.

Damage to the main steering surfaces or the hull violates the structural integrity of the flight control system, making traditional non-adaptive control systems useless. The intelligent system development team has integrated adaptive control technologies and modern control algorithms that will correctly identify and respond to changes in the stability of the aircraft and in the characteristics of the steering surfaces, allowing you to immediately configure the system in order to maintain the best flight qualities during an unexpected failure. Adaptive software “learns” new flight characteristics, on board and in real time; it helps the pilot maintain or regain control of the aircraft and thereby prevents possible aviation disaster.

The main goal of the project is to develop adaptive and fault-tolerant flight control systems, which significantly increase safety levels and contribute to the survivability of both civil and military aircraft. The project on an intelligent flight control system is a typical example of research activity aimed at researching new control technologies. This project combines flight controls with adaptive hull structures, which allows you to expand the characteristics and capabilities of the aircraft.

The plane with the experimental intellectual flight control system previously flew as part of a project on the so-called advanced control technology in the center. Dryden from 1996 to 1999 year.

According to the site www.nasa.gov

Comments

[zyablik.olga]

This aircraft is still located at Edwards Air Force Base, apparently in flying condition.

[crazyrom]

Well, they once had an attempt to make a super-maneuverable aircraft, something did not work out. And we already have dozens of them, and probably even hundreds fly

[axiles100682]

Handsome. I don’t know his TTX, but I think a beautiful car and also flies. Remove the front wings and will look like one of our cars.

[viktorR]

remove PGO and poured F-15)))

[Spitfire]

"Remove the front fenders and it looks like one of our cars." - You have some strange logic ... These "wings" on it are not from birth, an ordinary F-15 flies without them, so why tear off the wings from the experimental version, which differs from the serial version only by these wings? ;-) In addition, with them, it is just like the SU-37. And without them - on the SU-27 and all its further derivatives. However, the F-15 was created in the image and likeness of the MIG-25, has a classic layout, in contrast to the integral Sukhoi.

[Vasek]

Quote: axiles100682

Remove the front wings and will look like

[Bayonet]

Quote: axiles100682

.Take away the front wings and will look like one of our cars.

If you remove something from your grandfather, he will look like a grandmother!

[viktorrymar]

And my photographs made me feel as if the plane was alive, in some angles it looks like a hummingbird or a moth.

[Bersaglieri]

Developers loved in the 70-80s with a managed PGO to play around. Su-35 (first) / 37, Lavi / J10, Rafale, EF Typhoon, Viggen, Grippen ...
The general trend was, so to speak.

[Kir]

Dear You, I was ahead of you, I just wanted to say that ours did earlier than the Yankees, and there were points of suspension on it if I didn’t get it!

As for beauty, well, I don’t know for me our Su-27s will continue to be much prettier, I generally keep quiet about maneuverability and range. And there’s a question that they didn’t do anything before the Russians if a prototype exists since 1973? And besides, the XA-31 (SGA + FRG) will be more interesting in terms of maneuverability and futurism.

Thanks to the authors for the article.

[Vasek]

Quote: Kir

And still there is a question that before the Russians they didn’t do it already if a prototype exists since 1973?

It seems like the opposite trend - to abandon PGO - is in fashion?

[adept666]

It's not about the fashion, but about the requirements for the aircraft, the PGO increases the RCS, in addition, due to the peculiarities of the circuit in some modes, an unpleasant fertel called "pecking" can occur.

[inkass_98]

The comrades have already said everything above, I can only add that it’s obviously more than once upgraded according to the full program, judging by the cockpit and the presence of the LCD there. And the plane is actually beautiful, although I personally like the F-14 more.

[Free wind]

Interesting car. With wings than a dragon. from the avatar is similar. Well, what about earlier later. The first flight of the F-15 July 1972. serial samples went to the army in 1974. SU-27 first flight in 1977. but it turned out that the prototype is seriously behind the F-15, I had to urgently remodel the plane. and again the prototype took off in April 1981. Unfortunately there were accidents and pilots died. They began to enter the army in 1982. MIG-29 first flight in October 1977. began to enter the army in 1984.

[zyablik.olga]

Quote: Free Wind

To enter the army began in 1982 year

You probably mean the Su-27 of the pilot batch, several machines had actually been produced by that time. Perhaps they entered the Combat Application Center. The Su-27P combat regiments began to enter in 1985, one of them was the Tallinn Fighter Aviation Regiment in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, based at the same airfield with KnAAPO.

[Free wind]

Of course to Akhtubinsk.

[corporal]

During the discussion of the appearance, they somehow missed the idea that an adaptive control system was being developed there.
If not mistaken, F-16, F-117 and B-2 fly with this.
We unfortunately did not hear about something like that

[StolzSS]

We have a lot of extremely interesting things, only little is written about this (

[srelock]

Quote: Corporal

During the discussion of the appearance, they somehow missed the idea that an adaptive control system was being developed there.
If not mistaken, F-16, F-117 and B-2 fly with this.
We unfortunately did not hear about something like that

If you mean the fly-by-wire control system, then in our country it is T-4, Su-27 and beyond. If the so-called. "adaptive wing", then: Su-35, T-50.

[PeaceByForce]

T50 also has developed root nodules, perhaps they perform similar functions. Plus article.

[srelock]

Quote: PeaceByForce

T50 also has developed root nodules, perhaps they perform similar functions. Plus article.

The PGO on the T-50 performs functions similar to the slats (in fact, it is their continuation), and also allows you to adjust the intensity of vortex formation, and therefore the lift, separately on the left and right influxes. Together with the UHT, this gives an increase in the roll speed at high angles of attack and improves takeoff and landing characteristics, but at the same time it does not have the disadvantages of the "classic" PGO.

[corporal]

Quote: PeaceByForce

T50 also has developed root sag

Perhaps you did not understand the meaning of the article, the point is not in the geometry of the apparatus, but in the software of the control computer. The point is not how many wings the plane has, but in control. In a word: the computer itself monitors the changes in aerodynamic characteristics and controls the planes as if you were driving a regular plane (for the pilot), although at the same time some of the bearing surfaces might be damaged or even lost (something like this). However, experts will explain more readily when they appear on the page.

[srelock]

Quote: Corporal

In a word: the computer itself monitors the changes in aerodynamic characteristics and controls the planes as if you were driving a regular plane (for the pilot), although at the same time some of the bearing surfaces might be damaged or even lost (something like this).

I think, within certain limits, the EMDS can compensate for this.

[igorche]

EMDSU will be able to compensate for this within any limits, the main thing is that there should be something
And in this NF-15B, the point is that, as a result of the huge area of ​​the VGO, the aircraft has a very rear alignment, that is, it is an aircraft with a high degree of static instability. And the designers also tested the SU's ability to provide control of such an aircraft. By the way, the appearance of PGO on our Sushki, and then abandonment of it, is not a trend (all the more it cannot be compared with Rafal, Typhoon and other "ducks", they do not have a rear HE), namely the result of the forward alignment of the Su-27M due to the increased weight of the avionics and the transformation of the aircraft into a statically stable one. Then the PGO was introduced to return the centering back, like in the Su-27, simultaneously providing better controllability at high angles of attack, and on the Su-34, also reducing the shaking when flying at ultra-low altitudes. When the weight of the avionics was reduced on the new Su-35, it became possible to abandon the PGO, which itself added mass to the aircraft and increased the RCS, shifting its functions to rotary nozzles and a more advanced control system.