Optimization of Tactical Aircraft Maneuvers Utilizing High Angles of Attack

Future high-performance aircraft will have high thrust/weight ratios, will be equipped with controlconfigured vehicle technology, will be extremely lightweight, and possibly have the capability of flying at very high angles of attack in the "poststall" region. This paper investigates, by using numerical optimization techniques, whether the poststall capability improves performance for several tactical maneuvers. Specifically, minimum-time turning maneuvers for a variety of boundary conditions and flight-path constraints are computed 1) for aircraft A which has poststall capability and 2) for aircraft B which does not, but is otherwise identical to A. It is concluded that for two combinations of boundary conditions/path constraints, flight time can be reduced if high angles of attack are utilized. In the majority of cases, however, minimum-time maneuvers are flown, load constraints permitting, at or near the maximum lift coefficient.