NASA's highly modified F-15 (left), used for digital electronic flight and engine control systems research, is accompanied by an F-18 chase support aircraft during its takeoff roll on a flight from the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The F-15A (Serial #71-0287) was called the HIDEC (Highly Integrated Digital Electronic Control) flight facility. Research programs flown on the testbed vehicle have demonstrated improved rates of climb, fuel savings, and engine thrust by optimizing systems performance. The aircraft also tested and evaluated a computerized self-repairing flight control system for the Air Force that detects damaged or failed flight control surfaces. The system then reconfigures undamaged control surfaces so the mission can continue or the aircraft is landed safely. A research pilot in the support aircraft monitors in-flight operations and provides an additional measure of safety during research flights.
