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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: |
EC01-0050-9 |
| Photo Date: |
February 21, 2001 |
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| Formats: |
541x480 JPEG Image (114 KBytes)
1156x1024 JPEG Image (587 KBytes)
3000x2657 JPEG Image (5,080 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 was 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. In the background is the U. S. Borax mine, Boron, California, near the Dryden/Edwards Air Force Base complex. |
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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: |
Jim Ross |
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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 # EC01-0050-9
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