VLF Integrated Flight/Propulsion Control

The Control Configured Vehicle, as embodied in the McDonnell Aircraft Vectored Lift Fighter, offers new dimensions in airplane responsiveness. To take full advantage of this potential to improve air combat and attack effectiveness, a degree of coupling between the airplane's flight control system and its propulsion control system was investigated. It was demonstrated in manned simulation that integrating the Vectored Lift Fighter's powerful aerodynamic deceleration control with the control of its high thrust-to-weight ratio propulsion system effectively reduced pilots' work load during critical moments in air combat and attack maneuvers when the pilots' attention must be concentrated upon acquiring and tracking the target.