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NASA Meatball NASA Dryden Autonomous Formation Flight (AFF) banner
Smoke generators show the twisting paths of wingtip vortices behind two NASA Dryden F/A-18 jets used in the Autonomous Formation Flight (AFF) program Smoke generators show the twisting paths of wingtip vortices behind two NASA Dryden F/A-18's used in the Autonomous Formation Flight (AFF) program during flight #743.

Photo Number: EC01-0328-28
Photo Date: November 9, 2001

Formats: 524x480 JPEG Image (115 KBytes)
1117x1023 JPEG Image (678 KBytes)
3000x2750 JPEG Image (5,560 KBytes)

Photo
Description:

Smoke generators show the twisting paths of wingtip vortices behind two NASA Dryden F/A-18's used in the Autonomous Formation Flight (AFF) program during flight #743. The lead aircraft, F-18 #845 (NASA Dryden's Systems Research Aircraft), piloted by Craig Bomben, is followed closely by another F-18, #847, piloted by Dick Ewers.

A vortex is a spiraling current of air emanating from aircraft wingtips as they fly. By mapping the vortex pattern and using sophisticated software to put the trailing aircraft in the optimum location, the energy of the vortex could result in fuel savings for the follower aircraft of 15 percent or more.


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.

NASA Photo by: Carla Thomas

Keywords: AFF; Autonomous Formation Flight; F-18; F/A-18; smoke generators; F-18 #845; F-18 #847; Craig Bomben; Dick Ewers; SRA; Systems Research Aircraft; flight #743


Last Modified: July 23, 2002
Responsible NASA Official: Marty Curry
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