Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T08:07:34.935Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

CVF ski-jump ramp profile optimisation for F-35B

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 February 2016

A. Fry
Affiliation:
[email protected], BAE Systems, Warton, UK
R. Cook
Affiliation:
[email protected], BAE Systems, Warton, UK
N. Revill
Affiliation:
[email protected], BAE Systems, Warton, UK

Abstract

This paper presents a summary of the principles and processes used to design a ski-jump ramp profile for the UK’s Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) optimised for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

The paper includes an overview of the CVF and JSF programs, a history and summary of the ski-jump ramp and the principles of its use in the shipborne Short Take-Off (STO) manoeuvre.

The paper discusses the importance of defining optimisation boundaries including specified objectives, aircraft configurations and environmental conditions. It then demonstrates the process of balancing the design drivers of air vehicle performance and landing gear loads to achieve an optimum profile. Comparisons are made between the proposed candidate CVF ramp profile and the current in service ski-jump design as designed for the Harrier family of aircraft.

The paper briefly covers some of the important issues and factors that have been experienced when a theoretical profile is translated into a physical ramp fitted to a ship, principally the effects on aircraft operations due to build and in-service variation from the nominal profile.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2009 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Fozard, J.W., Ski-Jump – A great leap for tactical airpower, British Aerospace Paper, 1979.Google Scholar
2. Spavins, C.S., Harrier – ski jump, RAE Bedford Paper, ~1981.Google Scholar
3. Thorby, D.C., Johnson, J., Auld, A.B.K., Newman, H.T. and Brooker, M.J., The special requirements of a VSTOL aircraft, British Aerospace, AGARD Paper October 1990.Google Scholar
4. Johnson, J. and Thorby, D.C., Sea Harrier: The design of a 6 degree ramp for a 425ft flight deck, BAE Systems Internal Report: HSA-KSD-N-HAR-715, April 1976.Google Scholar
5. Auld, A., A ski-jump ramp design for INS Vikrant, BAE Systems Internal Report: BAE-KSD-N_HAR-1042, October 1981.Google Scholar
6. Thorby, D.C., Landing gear for ASTOVL: A Discussion Paper, BAE Systems Internal Report: BAE-KAE-N-AST-4081 June 1993.Google Scholar
7. Thorby, D.C., STOVL Landing gear criteria and related topics, British Aerospace Internal Memorandum, 1999.Google Scholar
8. Rosa, M. and Rolfe, R., Ski-Jump launch performance studies in Dstl, Dstl IPLC08 Paper 06, July 2008.Google Scholar
9. Nicholas, O.P., An insight into optimal launch performance from a ski-jump, Dstl Report, October 2003.Google Scholar
10. MoD DEFSTAN 00-970 Pt3, 1, (305), Design of undercarriages – operation from surfaces other than smooth runways. UK MoD Publication, 1994.Google Scholar