DFRC Photo #	Photo Date	Image Description
		AAW Photo Collection Contact Sheet
EC04-0361-16	December 15, 2004	NASA's flexible-wing F/A-18 maneuvers through a test point during the second phase of the NASA/Air Force Active Aeroelastic Wing flight research program.
EC04-0361-12	December 15, 2004	NASA's Active Aeroelastic Wing F/A-18 rolls into a hard left turn during a research flight in early December 2004 from the Dryden Flight Research Center.
EC04-0361-08	December 15, 2004	NASA's modified Active Aeroelastic Wing F/A-18 skims over portions of the U.S. Borax mine during a recent mission from the Dryden Flight Research Center.
EC04-0361-02	December 15, 2004	NASA's Active Aeroelastic Wing F/A-18 resumed flight tests in the second phase of the program at the Dryden Flight Research Center in early December 2004.
EC03-0174-1	June 25, 2003	The Active Aeroelastic Wing F-18 research aircraft (AAW) is shadowed by another F-18 in formation during a flyover of the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.
EC03-0039-1	February 7, 2003	NASA Dryden's highly-modified Active Aeroelastic Wing F/A-18A shows off its form during a 360-degree aileron roll during a research flight.
EC03-0039-7	February 7, 2003	With landing gear and flaps down, NASA Dryden's Active Aeroelastic Wing F/A-18A research aircraft rolls towards final approach to the Edwards Air Force Base runway at the end of a test flight.
EC03-0039-9	February 7, 2003	NASA 853, a modified former Navy F/A-18A fighter plane, is now performing research duties in the Active Aeroelastic Wing project at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB, California.
EC03-0039-14	February 7, 2003	NASA's Active Aeroelastic Wing F/A-18A research aircraft rolls upside down during a 360-degree aileron roll on a test mission.
Active Aeroelastic Wing First Flight - DFRC Press Release 02-57
EC02-0264-3	November 15, 2002	The modified F/A-18 being flown in the joint NASA/Air Force Active Aeroelastic Wing research program shows off its colors during its first checkout flight from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center.
EC02-0264-19	November 15, 2002	How differential deflection of the inboard and outboard leading-edge flaps affected the handling qualities of this modified F/A-18A was evaluated during the first check flight in the Active Aeroelastic Wing program at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center.
EC02-0264-01	November 15, 2002	The Active Aeroelastic Wing F-18A lifts off on its first checkout flight November 15, 2002, from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
Active Aeroelastic Wing - DFRC Press Release 02-50
EC02-0203-14	August 22, 2002	NASA Dryden technicians (Dave Dennis, Freddy Green and Jeff Doughty) position a support cylinder under the right wing of the Active Aeroelastic Wing F/A-18 test aircraft prior to ground vibration tests.
EC02-0203-46	August 22, 2002	The upper wing surfaces of the Active Aeroelastic Wing F/A-18 test aircraft are covered with accelerometers and other sensors during ground vibration tests at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.
EC02-0203-55	August 22, 2002	A thin rod is all that is needed to transmit vibrations from a shaker device (at bottom) and the wingtip of the Active Aeroelastic Wing F/A-18 research aircraft during ground vibration testing
Active Aeroelastic Wing Rollout Highlights Centennial of Flight - DFRC Press Release 02-18
EC02-0065-4	March 27, 2002	With the modified F/A-18 showcased behind him, Kevin Petersen, director of NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, addressed the audience attending the rollout ceremonies for the Active Aeroelastic Wing flight research project.
EC02-0065-40	March 27, 2002	A modified F/A-18 in a distinctive red, white and blue paint scheme was showcased during formal rollout ceremonies for the Active Aeroelastic Wing flight research program.
EC02-0061-1	March 21, 2002	NASA aircraft technician Don Herman completes placement of the first official U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission logo on an aircraft, Dryden's Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) F/A-18.
EC02-0061-2	March 21, 2002	NASA aircraft technician Donte Warren completes placement of the first official U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission logo on an aircraft, Dryden's Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) F/A-18.
EC01-0288-1	October 24, 2001	This modified F/A-18A is the test aircraft for the Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) project at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California
EC01-0288-2	October 24, 2001	A modified F/A-18A sporting a distinctive red, white and blue paint scheme is the test aircraft for the Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) project at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California.
EC01-0288-3	October 24, 2001	A modified F/A-18A sporting a distinctive red, white and blue paint scheme is the test aircraft for the Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) project at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California.
EC01-0288-5	October 24, 2001	A modified F/A-18A sporting a distinctive red, white and blue paint scheme is the test aircraft for the Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) project at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California.
EC01-0076-1	March 15, 2001	Structural loads testing on the Active Aeroelastic Wing F-18 in the Flight Loads Laboratory at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California
EC01-0112-2	April 10, 2001	A modified F/A-18A undergoes wing torsion testing in the Flight Dynamics Laboratory at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California

The program uses a modified F/A-18A Hornet as its testbed aircraft, with wings that were modified to the flexibility of the original pre-production F-18 wing. Other aircraft modifications include a new actuator to operate the outboard portion of a divided leading edge flap over a greater range and rate, and a research flight control system to host the aeroelastic wing control laws.

AAW flight tests began in November, 2002 with checkout and parameter-identification flights. Based on data obtained during 50 research flights over a five-month period, new AAW flight control software was then developed over the following year. A second series of research flights began in late 2004 evaluated the AAW concept in a real-world flight environment, using the newly created control laws in the aircaft's research flight control computer. About 45 research missions were flown over a four-month period in the second phase of flight testing that concluded in March, 2005. Extensive analysis of data acquired during the project is continuing at NASA Dryden.

The Active Aeroelastic Wing Program is jointly funded and managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory and NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, with Boeing's Phantom Works as prime contractor for wing modifications and flight control software development. The F/A-18A aircraft was provided by the Naval Aviation Systems Test Team and modified for its research role by NASA Dryden technicians.

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