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NASA News
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Dryden Flight Research Center
P.O. Box 273
Edwards, California 93523
Voice   661-276-3449
FAX     661-276-3566                           
 
                    ___
June 5, 2003

Frederick A. Johnsen, News Chief                     
                           
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center 
                       
Phone: (661) 276-3449

Kathy Barnstorff
Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
(757) 864-9886

Megan Clark or Kim Hinson
Virginia Air and Space Center
(757) 727-0900/ext. 730

RELEASE: 03-30

VIRGINIA AIR AND SPACE CENTER TO DEDICATE NASA F-18 RESEARCH JET

A former NASA research aircraft used at NASA's Dryden Flight Research 
Center on Edwards AFB to improve the safety and maneuverability of 
modern military fighters in combat situations will now make its home 
in a Virginia aviation museum.

The F-18 HARV or High Alpha Research Vehicle has now been moved into 
its permanent location within the Virginia Air and Space Center in 
Hampton, Va.

The F-18 HARV is on loan from NASA Dryden. It is one of several 
aircraft the Virginia Air and Space Center will feature as part of 
its new Adventures in Flight Gallery, scheduled to open in October.

NASA researchers, including many from Dryden, used the former fighter 
jet between 1987 and 1996 to study airflow, aircraft control, and 
engine performance at high angles of attack, the very extreme flight 
attitudes of aircraft in air combat situations.  

Flight research with the HARV increased the understanding of flight 
at high angles of attack. That has helped makers of U.S fighter jets 
design features that will make fighters safer to fly, expanding into 
parts of the flight envelope pilots previously had to avoid.

During the second phase of flight research with the F-18 HARV, NASA 
researchers installed a thrust-vectoring system at the end of the jet 
engine's exhaust at the back of the airplane. The spoon-shaped 
paddles can be moved to direct engine exhaust flow to provide much 
greater pitch and yaw control.  This gave better maneuverability and 
control at high-angles of attack. A thrust vectoring system is now 
included on the country's newest jet fighter, the F-22.

The F-18 HARV flew more than 385 research flights during its nine 
years at Dryden.

The Virginia Air & Space Center is the visitor center for NASA 
Langley Research Center and Langley Air Force Base.

For more information on the F-18 HARV on the NASA Dryden Flight 
Research Center Website, please check the Internet at:

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Research/HARV/index.html

  For more information on NASA's Langley Research Center please check 
the Internet at:

http://www.larc.nasa.gov

For more information on The Virginia Air & Space Center please check 
the Internet at:

  http://www.vasc.org.

- NASA -

NOTE TO EDITORS:
Interview opportunities are available with former F-18 HARV project 
personnel at NASA Dryden by calling (661) 276-2662.

Media are invited to the official dedication ceremony of the aircraft 
at the Virginia Air & Space Center at 600 Settler's Landing Rd., 
Hampton, Va., on Tuesday, June 10 at 11:30 a.m. Researchers who 
worked with the jet and a video news release of the F-18 HARV in 
flight will be available.

F-18 HARV photographs are available on the Internet at:

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/F-18HARV/index.html

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