![]() ![]() While they can recover at a slower speed, the Naval Aviators like the control power those extra few knots provide when trying to keep the meatball centered. Clean or heavy with bring back weapons doesn't matter. Typically, USN brings F/A-18E/Fs aboard at 145 kts. I'm guessing the USN wasn't comfortable with the idea though. A higher alpha on approach would cut the F/A-18's approach speed substantially. The bigger "problem" with the F/A-18 is the low angle of attack on approach (8 degrees alpha), which produces only modest lift (lift coefficient ~0.75). LERXes on the F/A-18 produce some (but not all?) of the same benefits as canards. This also helps with dogfighting performance and would explain reports that Rafale consistently beats Typhoon in knife fights (Typhoon's long-coupled canards don't enhance lift, only add to pitch control at supersonic speeds). The Rafale merely replicates the performance, 120kts at 16 degrees alpha. The benefits of close-couple canard delta configurations have been known ever since the Viggen demonstrated an approach speed of 120kts at 17 degrees alpha. ![]() That's where close coupled canards come in: they are a natural fit because they increase lift substantially at high alpha (not so much below 10-15 degres alpha). Delta wings help with the first: they are structurally very efficient (high volume & wing area, low weight), though they only produce decent lift at high alpha (when lift-enhancing vortices are created). For low landing speeds you need two things:Ĭlose-coupled delta wings hit both those requirements. Two great research articles on the subject:
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