Northrop F-18 STOL Demonstrator for USAF

[BillRo]

In the mid 80's the USAF was concerned about operations on bomb damaged runways and was looking for suggestions as to how to reduce landing distance/speeds of fighter aircraft. Northrop proposed putting 2D nozzles on an F-18 for a flight demo. For some reason the USAF did not want an F-18! You can see how we helped the graphics department do their painting for the proposal.

 

[piko1]

any technical data on the demonstrator ?

 

[cluttonfred]

Great stuff, Bill, and I appreciate the personal connection. Thanks for sharing!

 

[BillRo]

Found another painting but no technical data.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

NASA had tested an F-18 model with 2D engine nozzles of a different type in 1978:


http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/Test_323:_F-18_with_Non_Axi_Nozzles

 

[SOC]

I assume the 80s thing is what ended up with the F-15 S/MTD. Did any of the Northrop F-18 data get re-used for the HARV program?

And of course we didn't want a Hornet; we'd already rejected the YF-17, why would we want a bloated one? ;D

 

[hesham]

Hi,


also the same concept and adds a lift engines to be a V/STOL F-18 for Navy,created
by David W. Taylor in Naval Ship Research and Development Center.

http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a087657.pdf

 

[hesham]

From this report.