| AFTI/F-111A Aardvark | |
|---|---|
 AFTI/F-111A Aardvark in flight | |
| General information | |
| Type | Research aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | General Dynamics/Boeing |
| Status | In storage |
| Primary user | NASA |
| Number built | 1 (converted from F-111A) |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1985 |
| First flight | 18 November 1985 |
| Retired | 1988 |
| Developed from | General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark |
TheGeneral Dynamics–Boeing AFTI/F-111A Aardvark is a research aircraft modified from aGeneral Dynamics F-111 Aardvark to test aBoeing-builtsupercriticalmission adaptive wing (MAW). This MAW, in contrast to standardcontrol surfaces, could smoothly change the shape of itsairfoil in flight.
The AFTI/F-111A was part of the Advanced Fighter Technology Integration (AFTI) Program by theUnited States Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory andNASA, which was an extension of the earlier transonic aircraft technology (TACT) program to install a supercritical wing onto an F-111.[1] Unlike the TACT program, AFTI utilized amission adaptive wing, which, instead of standardcontrol surfaces, could smoothly change the shape of itsairfoil in flight.[2] The concept was inspired by birds, which change the shape of their wings to adapt to new flight conditions.[2]
By late 1981, Boeing had built a full-scale wing section and had received thevariable-sweep actuator boxes from an F-111.[2] The new wings were installed on the 13th service test F-111A (serial number 63-9778), which had previously been used in the TACT program.[3] In November 1983, the systems for the MAW was powered up for the first time, revealing problems that delayed the program by five months.[4]
The MAW of the AFTI/F-111A had four automatic flight modes:[1]
The first flight of the AFTI/F-111A took place on 18 November 1985.[4] A total of 59 flights were conducted between 1985 and 1988, resulting in satisfactory results from the four flight modes during testing and showing a significant reduction in drag.[1] Additionally, none of the aircraft's 46rotary actuators failed during testing, however, its 16 power drive units (PDU) required 37 component or complete replacements.[4]
As of April 2023, the aircraft used in the TACT and AFTI programs is in storage at theAir Force Flight Test Museum atEdwards AFB.[5]
Data from Standard F-111A,[6][7] Mission Adaptive Wing[4]
General characteristics
Performance
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era