The explosion of digital computation capability over the last 30 years has transformed the military aircraft design process, and provided unprecedented opportunity for true optimization of selected configurations prior to production commitment. To date, this revolution has worked primarily to reduce risk in aircraft development. Today's new aircraft flies as expected, without unforeseen handling quirks or instability, and exploration of most, if not all the flight envelope is possible on the first flight. Digital flight simulation, sophisticated wind tunnel test techniques, and performance, structural and thermal modeling all combine to elevate confidence in a new design to a very high level. Another, as yet unrealized benefit is an enormous potential improvement in productivity and efficiency, and therefore cost, of the aircraft design and manufacturing process. Insight is provided into the modern aircraft development process from the perspective of a designer and builder of high performance military fighter, McDonnell Aircraft Co.


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    Title :

    Design Optimization of Fighter Aircraft


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1987


    Size :

    20 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English








    Design of fighter aircraft

    Foottit, H.R. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1948