Does F-18 Take Off With Speedbrake Extended? — Military Forum

Sponsor Message:


My Starred Topics \| Profile \| New Topic \| Forum Index \| Help \| Search

Does F-18 Take Off With Speedbrake Extended?

Lemmy From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 256 posts, RR: 0
Posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 5685 times:

I understand that, instead of a traditional speedbrake, the F-18 uses a combination of rudder and elevator deflection to create drag.

This picture seems to show an F-18 rumbling down the catapult with the speedbrake at least partially deployed:

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Chad Thomas - Jetwash Images

If this is really the case, why? I can understand using the speedbrake on approach, since it enables the pilot to keep the engines spooled up in case of a bolter. But why do it on takeoff?

I am a patient boy ...

5 replies: All unread, jump to last

Flyf15 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 1, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 5680 times:

All those control surfaces are deflected to help get that nose pointed up the second it leaves the ship... a very important thing to have happen. As the vertical stabs are angled outwards, deflecting both rudders inwards also gives a downward component of lift, which assists the elevators.

Contact_tower From Norway, joined Sep 2001, 536 posts, RR: 1
Reply 2, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 5679 times:

The F-18 is on "autopilot" until it leaves the deck correct??? Hands off until you have positive rate of climb or something?

Ftrguy From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 358 posts, RR: 0
Reply 3, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 5667 times:

Quoting Flyf15 (Reply 1):
All those control surfaces are deflected to help get that nose pointed up the second it leaves the ship... a very important thing to have happen. As the vertical stabs are angled outwards, deflecting both rudders inwards also gives a downward component of lift, which assists the elevators.

You are correct. The towing in of the rudders helps to lift the nose. You will also notice that as soon as the plane is airborne, the rudders go back to their normal position.

Quoting Contact_tower (Reply 2):
The F-18 is on "autopilot" until it leaves the deck correct??? Hands off until you have positive rate of climb or something?

Sort of but not really. There is no "autopilot" button you push prior to the cat shot. You simply set the trim to a specific angle and the fly-by-wire system maintains that angle off the ship. You better believe that my hands are on that stick as soon as I feel the end of the cat stroke though.

Ftrguy From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 358 posts, RR: 0
Reply 4, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 5664 times:

Forgot to mention that the Hornet in the picture is a C model. A through D models actually have a rather large speedbrake between the tails that works quite well. It is not up in the picture.

The Super Hornets use a combination of control surface movements and two small spoilers on the leading edge extensions to slow it down. I've heard that it doesn't work that well.

Lemmy From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 256 posts, RR: 0
Reply 5, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 1 day ago) and read 5633 times:

Quoting Flyf15 (Reply 1):
All those control surfaces are deflected to help get that nose pointed up the second it leaves the ship

Oh, gotcha. So if the control surfaces were really acting as a speedbrake in the photo, the elevators would be pointing in the other direction to cancel out the tail-down force from the rudders?

I am a patient boy ...

Top Of Page

Forum Index

Reply To This Topic Does F-18 Take Off With Speedbrake Extended?

Username:	No username? Sign up now!
Password:	Forgot Password? Be reminded. Remember me on this computer (uses cookies)

Military aviation related posts only!
Not military related? Use the other forums
No adverts of any kind. This includes web pages.
No hostile language or criticizing of others.
Do not post copyright protected material.
Use relevant and describing topics.
Check if your post already been discussed.
Check your spelling!
DETAILED RULES

Check Spelling

Please check your spelling (press "Check Spelling" above)

Similar topics:

More similar topics...

How Long Does It Take F-15’s To Reach Mach 1? posted Fri May 26 2006 19:15:47 by Lenbrazil

Executive Decision F-117 Take Off Sene posted Fri Mar 24 2006 01:05:46 by 747400sp

Ingress Of Usmc Vertical Take Off Aircraft posted Sat Mar 18 2006 14:13:23 by CTR

Landing And Take Off posted Mon May 2 2005 22:45:50 by EMBQA

Fighter Take-off Question posted Sat Apr 9 2005 05:50:45 by Sprout5199

Did Space Ship One Take Off On Its Own Power... posted Thu Dec 16 2004 15:56:35 by Duke

New Jets Too Heavy For Take Off posted Sun May 16 2004 11:56:22 by EZYAirbus

B52s Take Off posted Fri Mar 21 2003 11:07:41 by Gc

A-10 Take-off Run posted Sun Feb 23 2003 19:20:31 by Tu144d

Aircraft Carrier Take-off Speed posted Thu Oct 11 2001 02:16:35 by Crank

Why No Buzz Saw Sound, When C-17s Take Off? posted Wed May 4 2011 14:23:22 by 747400sp

Flight Time To ISS - Why Does It Take So Long? posted Sat Mar 8 2008 03:16:45 by Flexo

Short C-5 Take Off posted Tue Jan 15 2008 20:25:02 by Beau222

Awesome F-14 Barrer/A-10 Low Take Off Video posted Sun Feb 25 2007 05:35:21 by CF188A

How Long Does It Take F-15’s To Reach Mach 1? posted Fri May 26 2006 19:15:47 by Lenbrazil

Executive Decision F-117 Take Off Sene posted Fri Mar 24 2006 01:05:46 by 747400sp

Ingress Of Usmc Vertical Take Off Aircraft posted Sat Mar 18 2006 14:13:23 by CTR

Landing And Take Off posted Mon May 2 2005 22:45:50 by EMBQA

Sponsor Message:

Printer friendly format