AGILITY AND HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK: AN AIR FORCE RESEARCH PERSPECTIVE

Current efforts to extend controlled flight into the post-stall regime will bring about major changes in aircraft dynamic capability. These changes will have far-reaching implications in terms of the specification, design, evaluation, and operational use of future fighter aircraft. Significant research continues to be accomplished in developing the technologies required to design and build supermaneuverable fighters. This paper discusses some of the background to current agility research and addresses the research which must be accomplished in order for the Air Force to specify requirements for and evaluate these aircraft.