21st Congress of International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, Melbourne, Australia, 13-18 September, 1998
Paper ICAS-98-1.4.2

EFFECT OF LEX SURFACES ON LATERAL-DIRECTIONAL DYNAMIC STABILITY OF COMBAT AIRCRAFT

Ericsson L. E., Beyers M. E.*
USA; *Institute for Aerospace Research, Canada

Keywords: lex surfaces, lateral-directional dynamic stability, combat aircraft

The role of configurational effects and associated maneuver-dependent departure characteristics in placing limitations on high-alpha maneuvers has been examined. The unsteady aerodynamics of advanced aircraft are considered with reference to two radical maneuvers, the Herbst and cobra maneuvers, for which the initial pitch/up phases are very similar but the high-alpha maneuvering phases are distinctly different. To successfully perform air combat maneuvers the aircraft must display adequate lateral-directional dynamic stability over the complete alpha range of the maneuver.

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