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NASA Meatball NASA Dryden F-15 HiDEC banner
F-15 HiDEC in flight over Mojave desert F-15 HiDEC in flight over Mojave desert
Photo Number: EC90-312-30
Photo Date: November 7, 1990
Formats: 558x480 JPEG Image (51 KBytes)
1190x1024 JPEG Image (295 KBytes)
3030x2606 JPEG Image (3,843 KBytes)
Description: NASA's F-15 HIDEC (Highly Integrated Digital Electronic Control) research aircraft cruises over California's Mojave Desert at sunset on a flight out of the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The aircraft was used to carry out research on engine and flight control systems and most recently demonstrated the use of computer-assisted engine controls as a means of landing an aircraft safely with only engine power if its normal control surfaces such as elevators, rudders or ailerons are disabled.

The aircraft also tested and evaluated a computerized self-repair flight control system for the Air Force that detects damaged or failed flight control surfaces, and then reconfigures undamaged flight surfaces so the mission can continue or the aircraft is landed safely. Nearly all research being carried out in the HIDEC program is applicable to future civilian and military aircraft.

Keywords: F-15; HIDEC; Highly Integrated Digital Electronic Control; flight control system; damage

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