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X-31A Tactical Utility Flight TestingThe two X-31A were jointly built by Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG and Rockwell International. These German-American experimental aircraft were designed to explore the new realm of flight far beyond stall by employing advanced technologies like thrust vectoring and sophisticated flight control systems. The X-31A aircraft is equipped with a thrust vectoring system consisting of three aft mounted paddles to deflect the thrust vector in both pitch and yaw axes, thus providing the X-31A in this 'Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability program with an agility and maneuverability never seen before. The tactical utility of the X-31A using post stall technologies has been revealed in an extensive flight test campaign against various current state-of-the-art fighter aircraft in a close-in combat arena. The test philosophy included both simulation and flight test. The tremendous tactical advantage of the X-31A during the tactical utility evaluation flight test phase was accompanied by a deepened insight into post stall tactics its typical maneuvers, impacts on pilot-aircraft interfaces and requirements for future weapons to both engineers and the military community. Some selected aspects of the tactical utility of the X-31A using post stall technologies unveiled by the International Test Organization are presented here.
Document ID
19980035032
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Holger Friehmelt
(German Aerospace Center Cologne, Germany)
Quirin Kim
(Bundesluftwaffe Neuburg/Donau, Germany)
Richard Guetter
(Daimler-Benz Aerospace A.G. Munich, Germany)
Date Acquired
August 18, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1997
Publication Information
Publication: Advances in Flight Testing
Publisher: Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development (AGARD)
Volume: AGARD-CP-593
Issue Publication Date: December 1, 1997
ISBN: 92-836-0050-9
Subject Category
Aircraft Design, Testing And Performance
Meeting Information
Meeting: Flight Vehicle Integration Panel Symposium
Location: Lisbon
Country: PT
Start Date: September 23, 1996
End Date: September 26, 1996
Sponsors: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Portions of document may include copyright protected material.
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