Flight transition data applicable to swept wings at high subsonic speeds are needed to make valid assessments of the potential for natural laminar flow or laminar flow control for transports of various sizes at various cruise speeds. NASA initiated the variable sweep transition flight experiment (VSTFE) to help establish a boundary layer transition data base for use in laminar flow wing design. The carrier vehicle for this experiment is an F-14, which has variable sweep capability. The variable sweep outer panels of the F-14 were modified with natural laminar flow gloves to provide not only smooth surfaces but also airfoils that can produce a wide range of pressure distributions for which transition location can be determined. The VSTFE program is briefly described and some preliminary glove I flight results are presented.
F-14 VSTFE and Results of the Cleanup Flight Test Program
1987
26 pages
Report
No indication
English
Aircraft , Aerodynamics , Test Facilities & Equipment , Boundary layer control , F-14 aircraft , Flight tests , Laminar flow , Variable sweep wings , Boundary layer transition , Boundary layer stability , Drag reduction , Flight envelopes , Flow visualization , Pressure distribution , Reynolds number
AIAA | 1978
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