F/A-18A/B/C/D 9G flight test program

The purpose of the 9g flight test program recently conducted at Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, was to investigate the capability of the F/A-18A/B/C/D aircraft for a 9g load factor envelope (a 1.5g increase over current capability). The 9g capability was enabled by a patch to the mission computer software which changed the basic g-limiter function, including the transonic load factor decrement, or "g bucket" function. The flight test had four objectives: to demonstrate component loads less than 100% design limit for the 9g flight envelope; to evaluate vertical tail buffet during 9g maneuvers; to test the functionality of the g-limiter for 9g maneuvers; and to demonstrate satisfactory flying qualities for the 9g envelope. The paper contains a detailed discussion of problems encountered and lessons learned during the flight test.