McDD Impact of agility requirements on configuration synthesis study (1994)

[flateric]

Impact of agility requirements on configuration synthesis
Author(s): Oneil, Patrick J.; Nyberg, Gregory; Deturk, Robin; Seal, Daniel W.; Grethlein, Christian E.
Abstract: A configuration design study was performed by McDonnell Douglas Aerospace (MDA) for the NASA Langley Research Center to determine the impact of agility-based requirements on the design of multirole aircraft. Design guidelines and methodologies were developed which can guide the aircraft designer in the selection of aerodynamics, controls, avionics, propulsion, and materials technologies for a given level of both agility and observables requirements. A matrix of nine aircraft was generated to investigate the quantitative effects of agility-based requirements and observables requirements on vehicle design and sizing. This matrix of aircraft indicates the relatively large TOGW penalty associated with high levels of agility when applied to a vehicle with significant observables requirements. However, the matrix also suggests that optimal integration of certain advanced technologies, such as in tailless fighter design synthesis, might have significant advantages over designs incorporating more conventional technologies. Finally, the study identifies the types of technologies required to achieve high agility under different observables requirements and allows some assessment of the current risks associated with these technologies and how future research might be focused toward reducing such risks.
NASA Center: NASA (non Center Specific)
Publication Date: Sep 1, 1994

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

hdl.handle.net

 

[flateric]

final configurations studied
some very familiar shapes appear among these - BoP, X-47A, X-36

 

[flateric]

2409

much more cool drawings are in full-text document

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Quite the report Flateric - thanks for the link! Mark

 

[Machdiamond]

Excellent find Flateric, thank you very much.
--Luc

 

[Abraham Gubler]

much more cool drawings are in full-text document

Almost got configuration overload, almost.... Great find, thanks for sharing.

 

[H_K]

Impact of agility requirements on configuration synthesis (Sep 1, 1994)
A configuration design study was performed by McDonnell Douglas Aerospace (MDA) for the NASA Langley Research Center to determine the impact of agility-based requirements on the design of multirole aircraft.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

hdl.handle.net

final configurations studied
some very familiar shapes appear among these - BoP, X-47A, X-36

I was looking for cross-sections of stealth aircraft and found this gold-mine (posted 15 years ago!).

Thought I'd share some more specs and drawings from this report... first off here are the 3 advanced stealth design options ("Type C" low observability). All drawings scaled to 100px=1m... click on images to see full size.

• Low agility ("2407")
• Moderate agility ("2408")
• High Agility ("2409")

 

[Scott Kenny]

While I really like the 2409 config, those canards are in a terrible spot for visibility...

 

[minmachine]

I was looking for cross-sections of stealth aircraft and found this gold-mine (posted 15 years ago!).

Thought I'd share some more specs and drawings from this report... first off here are the 3 advanced stealth design options ("Type C" low observability). All drawings scaled to 100px=1m... click on images to see full size.

• Low agility ("2407")
• Moderate agility ("2408")
• High Agility ("2409")

View attachment 756006

View attachment 756007

View attachment 756009

Hi everyone, I noticed that all 3 designs seem to have a higher than the standard 15-20° Cg to rear undercarriage angle. Would this mean only a vertical landing was possible, not a conventional one as the nose wheel would slam down on touch down due to the higher angles?

 

[H_K]

Now here are the 3 moderate stealth design options ("Type B" low observability).

• Low agility ("2404")
• Moderate agility ("2405")
• High Agility ("2406")