Simulator and Flight Tests of a Side Force Control System in the A-9A Airplane

A new control system, Side Force Control (SFC), has been developed to give aircraft a bombing and strafing accuracy unobtainable with conventional aileron control techniques.

Large gains in accuracy through SFC have been detected through moving-base simulator tests of weapon delivery. “Iron sight” accuracy has also increased with SFC.

SFC involves making aiming corrections in azimuth by turning with wings level. It eliminates the need (of conventional aileron control) for rolling prior to weapon release. Though the SFC turn rate is insufficient for the major maneuvers of initial roll-in from level flight or gross roll-out at diving altitude, it is more than sufficient for small heading change needs of the last seconds before release.