Skip Top nav bar link group topnav end piece go to business section go to education section go to history section go to gallery section go to news section go to organizations section go to research section go to search engine go to site index topnav end piece
NASA Meatball NASA Dryden F-15 ACTIVE Aircraft banner
F-15B ACTIVE with thrust vectoring nozzles on test stand F-15B ACTIVE with thrust vectoring nozzles on test stand

Photo Number: EC95-43338-8
Photo Date: 13 Nov 1995

Formats: 558x480 JPEG Image (64 KBytes)
1191x1024 JPEG Image (457 KBytes)
2000x1720 JPEG Image (566 KBytes)

Description: This November 13, 1995, photograph of the F-15 Advanced Controls Technology for Integrated Vehicles (ACTIVE) at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, shows the thrust stand being used for ground testing of a new thrust-vectoring concept involving two new Pratt & Whitney nozzles that can turn up to 20 degrees in any direction. These nozzles give the aircraft thrust control in the pitch (up and down) and yaw (left and right) directions. This will reduce drag and increase fuel economy or range as compared with conventional aerodynamic controls, which increase the retarding forces (drag) acting upon the aircraft.

These tests could lead to significant performance increases for military and commercial aircraft. The research program is the product of a collaborative effort by NASA, the Air Force's Wright Laboratory, Pratt & Whitney, and McDonnell Douglas Aerospace.


Keywords: F-15; ACTIVE; Advanced Controls Technology for Integrated Vehicles; nozzles; pitch; yaw; ground testing; thrust vectoring


Last Modified: February 6, 2002
Responsible NASA Official: Marty Curry
Curator: PAO Webmasters

NASA Website Privacy Statement