Flight and Propulsion Control Integration for Selected In-Flight Thrust Vectoring Modes

The synthesis of a flight control system for an advanced air-superiority fighter equipped with jet flaps, and its flight simulator performance, is reported in this paper. Several control modes which integrate aerodynamic surfaces and engine thrust vector control are designed to enhance performance in maneuvering flight. Sustained load factor, maximum load factor, and deceleration capability are improved with the coordinated deployment of aerodynamic and propulsive control effectors. Feasibility of the control modes was verified by a fixed-base pilot-in-the-loop simulation. Air-to-air tracking results show substantial differences in fuel consumption and engine cycle fatigue rates depending on mode selection and pilot technique. Emergency modes and handling characteristics are also discussed.