May 14 1976
From The Space Library
Dryden Flight Research Center announced it would begin a series of YF-17 test flights in mid-May to aid designers of future highly maneuverable aircraft. The YF-17, built by Northrop Corp. for the Air Force's lightweight fighter program, is a twin-engine aircraft incorporating many innovations to give it high performance and maneuverability. Objectives of the NASA research program would be to collect in-flight data on pressure around the engine nozzles and afterbody, for comparison with wind-tunnel data to improve prediction techniques for future fighter aircraft design; and to continue NASA studies on improved maneuvering for fighter aircraft in the areas of buffet, stability and control, acceleration, and handling. Under a $255 000 contract funded jointly by NASA and the U.S. Navy, the YF-17 would be flown for about 8 wk by Gary Krier, DFRC's YF-17 project pilot. (DFRC Release 7-76)
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