Control System Techniques for Improved Departure/Spin Resistance for Fighter Aircraft

The paper summarizes some fundamental information on control system effects on controllability of highly-maneuverable aircraft at high angles of attack and techniques for enhancing fighter aircraft departure/spin resistance using control system design. The discussion includes: (a) a brief review of pertinent high angle-of-attack phenomena including aerodynamics, inertia coupling, and kinematic coupling; (b) effects of conventional stability augmentation systems at high-α; (c) high-α control system concepts designed to enhance departure/spin resistance; and (d) the outlook for applications of these concepts to future fighters, particularly those designs which incorporate relaxed static stability.