Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology

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HiMAT in flight.
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HiMAT in flight.

Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology (HiMAT) was a NASA-program to develop technologies for future fighter aircraft. Among the technologies explored were close-coupled canards, fully digital flight control (including propulsion), composite materials (graphite and fiberglass), winglets etc.

The HiMat were actually drone aircraft, as the design team decided that it would be cheaper and safer to not have a pilot on board who could be killed in the event of a crash. This also meant that no ejection seat would have to be fitted.

Testing was completed in 1983 and the two HiMat aircraft are now on display, one at the National Air and Space Museum and the other at the NASA Ames Research Center.

A HiMat at the National Air and Space Museum
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A HiMat at the National Air and Space Museum

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Robert W. Kempel and Michael R. Earls, "Flight Control Systems Development and Flight Test Experience with the HiMAT Research Vehicles" (NASA TP-2822, 1988).
  • E. L. Duke, F. P. Jones, and R. B Roncoli, "Development of a Flight Test Maneuver Autopilot for a Highly Maneuverable Aircraft" (NASA TP-2218, 1986).


 

 

 

 

 

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