First Public Demonstration Of NASA's Aeroelastic Wing

A supersonic F/A-18 fighter jet that has a new twist - literally - courtesy of NASA will make its first appearance on the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh flight line this summer, during the Experimental Aircraft Association’s 51st annual convention, July 29-August 4 at Wittman Regional Airport at Oshkosh (WI). The Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) flight research aircraft completed its first phase of test flights in early May. Over the 50 test missions held since last November, the F/A-18 was flown to determine its handling with specially modified flexible wings. The wings have thinner covering “skins” along with other technical enhancements that allow the outer wing panels to twist up to five degrees. The concept could allow lighter-weight wings to supply better maneuverability for future high-performance military aircraft.

In The Spirit Of Oshkosh

“This airplane is a perfect complement to EAA’s flight centennial celebration at Oshkosh this year,” said Tom Poberezny, EAA President and AirVenture Chairman. “The idea of reshaping a wing in flight has been with us since the beginning of powered flight. NASA, however, is using the concept to create the innovations that will greet us as we move into aviation’s second century.”

The flexible-wing idea actually harkens back to the first successful powered flight by the Wright brothers in 1903. The Wrights were able to make their successful flights after mastering a concept called “wing warping,” where the wing’s shape could be slightly altered in flight to provide the pilot more control. Unlike the Wrights, who had to mechanically twist the wingtips on their “Flyer,” the F/A-18 test aircraft relies on control surfaces such as ailerons and flaps to twist the wings.

The F/A-18, used by the Navy and Marine Corps, is a front-line fighter that can operate from both land bases and aircraft carriers. They are perhaps best known as the aircraft flown by the navy’s renowned “Blue Angels” flight demonstration team.

When the airplane was first built in the early 1980s, the wings were too flexible to meet military specifications. The wings were stiffened to meet the aerial maneuvering demands for the military, but the potential of flexible wings was retained for additional research. That research and test flight programs are being conducted at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards (CA)

NASA’s AAW F/A-18 will be on display throughout EAA AirVenture on the event’s AeroShell Square showcase ramp.

FMI: www.eaa.org