Originally posted by edwin3060:Wait I'm confused-- from these pictures it looks like they have only 2D thrust vectoring, so do they have 2D or 3D thrust vectoring?
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edwin,
this may shed some light
The Al-37FU (FU stands for forsazh-upravlaemoye-sopo or "afterburning-articulating/steerable-nozzle") basically added 2D Thrust Vectoring Control (TVC) Nozzles to the Al-31F. 2D TVC means that the Nozzles can be directed/pointed in 2 axis or directions - up or down. TVC obviuosly makes an aircraft much more maneuverable. Al-31FP builds on the Al-37FU with the capability to vector in 2 planes i.e. thrust can be directed side-ways also. The nozzles of the MKI are capable of deflecting 32 degrees in the horizontal plane and 15 degrees in the vertical plane. This is done by angling them inwards by 15 degrees inwards, which produces a cork-screw effect and thus enhancing the turning capability of the aircraft.
Apparently the pilot has to flip a switch next to his right knee to engage any TVC manuevers. The flight computer will translate the necessary inputs to vector the engine thrust.
Naturally, that switch should not be always on.
Thanks alot, tankfanatic, Shotgun. I don't understand why the Russians didn't integrate TVC fully into the flight computers though. Is it so that if the TVC fails, the aircraft is still flight worthy? Given the notorious maintenance record of Russian aircraft, that seems likely to me.
the TVC were only have 3000 h life span..very short
I'm probably gonna get shot for this. But TVC nozzles require more moving parts than the usual engines. The more moving parts means more maintenance. I would think that the hotter russian engines also contribute to the wear and tear of the nozzle parts.
Maybe its smarter after all not to integrate the TVC as part of normal flight. The computer wouldn't really know when you want to vector your thrust and when you don't. I'd think that TVC controls ala Macross would be cool though. Foot pedals that do the work. And of course, have to find some way to integrate with the rudder.
We need more anti air missiles.
i post this bcoz you can see how the TVC look like in real...fascinating!
[youtube=425,355]-hq_RTaThNI[/youtube]
damn how the heck to embed?
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=132786
You cant embed youtube here dude. But it'll be nice if you just post up the link. =D
Most of the manuevers done there didn't need the TVC to be done. The thrust vectoring however, helps to recover from the manuever. The Flanker is a real marvel of an aircraft. Its ability to withstand high AoA and maintain maneuverability can only be matched by that of the SuperHornet (maybe not equal tho).
here the link...and it seems the TVC were 3 axis instead of 2
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-hq_RTaThNI
wow 999 post...