Dynamic Ground Effects Flight Test of an F-15 Aircraft

Corda, Stephen and Stephenson, Mark T. and Burcham, Frank W. and Curry, Robert E. (1994) Dynamic Ground Effects Flight Test of an F-15 Aircraft. Technical Report NASA TM-4604, Research Engineering, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.

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Abstract

Flight tests to determine the changes in the aerodynamic characteristics of an F-15 aircraft caused by dynamic ground effects are described. Data were obtained for low- and high-sink rates between 0.7 and 6.5 ft/sec and at two landing approach speeds and flap settings: 150 kn with the flaps down and 170 kn with the flaps up. Simple correlation curves are given for the change in aerodynamic coefficients because of ground effects as a function of sink rate. Ground effects generally caused an increase in the lift, drag, and nose-down pitching moment coefficients. The change in the lift coefficient increased from approximately 0.05 at the high-sink rate to approximately 0.10 at the low-sink rate. The change in the drag coefficient increased from approximately 0 to 0.03 over this decreasing sink rate range. No significant difference because of the approach configuration was evident for lift and drag; however, a significant difference in pitching moment was observed for the two approach speeds and flap settings. For the 170 kn with the flaps up configuration, the change in the nose-down pitching moment increased from approximately –0.008 to –0.016. For the 150 kn with the flaps down configuration, the change was from approximately –0.008 to –0.038.

EPrint Type:	NASA Technical Memorandum
Keywords:	Aircraft aerodynamics, Aircraft approach and landing, F-15 aircraft, Flight testing, Ground effect, Propulsion-controlled aircraft
Subjects:	(01 - 09) Aeronautics: (02) Aerodynamics Aircraft/Project: F-15
ID Code:	245
Deposited On:	22 July 2004
Additional Information:	28 pages. Stephen Corda, PRC Inc., Edwards, California; Mark T. Stephenson, Frank W. Burcham, and Robert E. Curry, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California.