LJ Braaains: Fighter Jet Control Surfaces...

[seawasp]

I am trying to get a good diagram/picture of the control surfaces for a fighter jet, preferably the F-18 or JSF/F-35. We're working on a project here that involves instrumenting components of these vehicles and being in Phase I we haven't really been able to actually physically approach the jets, but it's important to get some idea of the physical clearances, shapes, etc., so I can tell what can fit there, and where, and how I might design a test article that would be a reasonable match to one or more of the ailerons, flaps, rudders, and/or elevators. Our contacts have been trying to get some things from their people but so far nothing that really shows what we need.

Anyone out there have better info on this than I have? I've got a few general images, and a couple pictures with cutaway diagrams that are, unfortunately, not detailed enough.

Comments

[ninjarat.livejournal.com]

If you have CATIA and the appropriate components you should be able to get the skin designs. I know the JSF designs exist because the program contract requires the use of ATMCS for CATIA (and I've seen a few of them as part of ATMCS development). I strongly suspect the F-18 E/F designs exist because Northrop Grumman uses ATMCS in that program.

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

The IP side me of me is giving a red alert. That has *got* to be proprietary information. Right? This is where a little knowledge is dangerous. I do not work with actual diagrams and specs myself usually, but... I don't know. If JSF was my program I might be able to find out at least *what* can be given out through non-official channels, but it's not. Negative help here, sorry.

[ninjarat.livejournal.com]

Not really proprietary. Need to know.
On the face of it Wasp has need.

[seawasp]

Well, I'm merely an SBIR contractor, and from their point of view I don't think they'd say I need anything! :)

[ninjarat.livejournal.com]

And do you even have CATIA?

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Nice attitude to have to deal with, isn't it! ;) Ah, the joys of being a contractor.

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Well, the info itself is likely proprietary; that's just a matter of definition. That doesn't mean no one else can see it, for sure; there are just processes for letting outside parties see proprietary info. Usually there's some kind of legal proprietary information agreement that defines what the other party is allowed to do with it.

[ninjarat.livejournal.com]

I guess I have a slightly different definition of "proprietary". To me, proprietary equates to trade secret and the F-18 and JSF fuselages aren't trade secrets (at least they weren't 10 years ago when ATMCS was written).

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks for the clarification. That's what I meant by a matter of definition. I'm *not* sure that what's being discussed is actually proprietary by LM's definitions.

[ninjarat.livejournal.com]

Well, turns out that I was mistaken. The ATMCS that Northrop Grumman uses on F-18 likely isn't STONErule ATMCS, so that avenue may not work. Sorry.

[kira-snugz.livejournal.com]

if theres a military base near you (with the right planes) you could get in touch with the squadron and request a walk through of a jet. Introduce your self, explain why you want to see the plane, and what part of the plane you want to see. At absolute best you could get to see the jets, but they might offer you images, video or diagrams. A Military museum from a base with a fighter squardon might help too. Also contact the national museum of aviation, they might have a display set up to show that sort of thing, and if not, they should/will have images/specs in their library.

I happen to live less than 5 minutes from the largest non national aviation library in Canada, i can head over that way and see if they have anything, then i can photocopy it, bring it home and scan it for you. my sil and niece are in town starting tomorrow, and by tomorrow night i should know when they want to go to the museum (which houses said library) so i will let you know when i am heading that way

[lexomatic.livejournal.com]

I checked with a friend (a fellow RPI grad) who works with United Technologies on the thrust-vectoring surfaces of the F-22 (not what you're looking for, but close enough for insight). He points out that this is exactly the kind of innocuous-sounding inquiry they're warned about (loose lips and all that), and suggests you're stuck with your program office and its delay.

Are any of the desired models in the Smithsonian? No F-18, but there is an X-35B on the floor. It's fenced-off, of course, but maybe your company can make special arrangements to take a tape measure to it after-hours. (Try not to wake the elderly former Decepticon napping in the middle of the hall. The big, black, pointy guy.)

There's a CF-188B variant (trainer) of the F-18 at the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa. I have no idea if the pertinent anatomical features have evolved since this particular aircraft's 1978 construction.