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Two F/A-18B aircraft involved in the AFF program return to base in close formation with the autonomous function disengaged. |
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| Photo Number: |
EC01-0050-17 |
| Photo Date: |
February 21, 2001 |
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| Formats: |
524x480 JPEG Image (104 KBytes)
1117x1023 JPEG Image (515 KBytes)
3000x2750 JPEG Image (4,957 KBytes)
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Photo
Description: |
After completing a milestone autonomous station-keeping formation, two F/A-18B aircraft from the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, return to base in close formation with the autonomous function disengaged. For the milestone, the aircraft were spaced approximately 200 feet nose-to-tail and 50 feet apart laterally and vertically. Autonomous formation control was maintained by the trailing aircraft, the Systems Research Aircraft (SRA), in the lateral and vertical axes to within five feet of the commanded position. Nose-to-tail separation of the aircraft was controlled by manual throttle inputs by the trailing aircraft's pilot. The milestone was accomplished on the seventh flight of a 12 flight phase. The AFF flights were a first for a project under NASA's Revolutionary (RevCon) in Aeronautics Project. Dryden is the lead NASA center for RevCon, an endeavor to accelerate the exploration of high-risk, revolutionary technologies in
atmospheric flight. Automated formation flight could lead to formation fuel efficiencies and higher air traffic capacity. |
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Project
Description: |
Autonomous Formation Flight (AFF) was intended to allow an aircraft to fly in close formation over long distances using advanced positioning and controls technology. It utilized Global Positioning System satellites and inertial navigation systems to position two or more aircraft in formation, with an accuracy of a few inches. This capability was expected to yield fuel efficiency improvements. |
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| NASA Photo by: |
Lori Losey |
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| Keywords: |
F-18; F/A-18; F/A-18B; AFF; Autonomous Formation Flight; Global Positioning System; GPS; fuel efficiency |
Dryden Home > Collections > Photo Home > Autonomous Formation Flight (AFF) > Photo # EC01-0050-17
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