AN IMPROVED METHODOLOGY TO ASSESS DEPARTURE SUSCEPTIBILITY VS. AGILITY

WE PROPOSE TO USE NEW AND INNOVATIVE CRITERIA TO EVALUATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEPARTURE SUSCEPTIBILITY AND AGILITY OF SEVERAL MODERN FIGHTER AIRCRAFT. THE CRITERIA CONSIDER HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK STABILITY REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESS THE CONTROLLABILITY LIMITS OF AGILE COMBAT MANEUVERS. ONE ASPECT OF THE STUDY WILL BE AN ANALYTICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE F-18 HARV AIRCRAFT TO BE PERFORMED IN PARALLEL WITH THE F-18 HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK FLIGHT TEST PROGRAM. THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY WILL BE DESIGN METHODOLOGIES WHICH QUANTIFY THE TRADE-OFFS THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED IN DESIGNING AN AIRCRAFT THAT OPTIMIZES AGILITY BUT MAINTAINS A HIGH LEVEL OF DEPARTURE RESISTANCE.