Direct Thrust-Measurement Technique Applied to an F-15 Airplane

Direct measurement of aircraft-engine thrust by use of strain gauges offers several advantages over traditional model-based methods of calculating thrust, provided that care is taken during the installation and calibration of strain gauges, and provided further that secondary load paths are understood. Advantages of the strain-gauge-based thrust-measurement method depend upon the specific engine/airframe interface, but can include the following: