Drucella Andersen Headquarters, Washington, D.C. April 1, 1992 (Phone: 202/453-8613) Don Nolan Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, Calif. (Phone: 805/258-3447) RELEASE: 92-44 NASA SLATES SUPERSONIC PERFORMANCE AND CONTROL TESTS NASA will soon start supersonic flight tests of a new electronic control system that will improve the performance, reliability and safety of high-speed military aircraft, future commercial supersonic transports and the X-30 National Aero-Space Plane. A NASA F-15 research aircraft will begin supersonic testing of the Performance Seeking Control in April 1992 at NASA's Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, Calif. The system monitors the plane's various computerized control systems in flight and automatically adjusts the combination of factors such as fuel flow and air flow into the engines to get the most thrust for the lowest possible revolutions per minute. Researchers expect Performance Seeking Control to produce about 9 percent greater thrust and 10 percent less fuel consumption in the F-15 when it cruises above the speed of sound. Subsonic research flights with the system in 1990 boosted the F-15's engine power by 15 percent, lowered fuel usage by 2 percent and reduced engine temperature by 160 degrees F. The improvements resulting from Performance Seeking Control have several benefits. Lower engine temperature prolongs engine life; in the F-15, for example, every drop of 70 degrees F reduces the rate of engine wear by 50 percent. The higher thrust shortens takeoff distance and lets fighter aircraft intercept a potential adversary more quickly. - more - - 2 - The technology also could expand to become an indicator of wear on engine parts by measuring stress in the engine turbine area. With normal preventive maintenance, the information could help insure fail-safe engine operation in high-speed aircraft. Performance Seeking Control applies to many aircraft, but future supersonic airliners would benefit most because the system would throttle back the engines to their lowest possible operating rates while the plane flies at sustained supersonic speeds. The system also could be applied to the X-30 National Aero-Space Plane to integrate the X-30's various control systems. McDonnell Aircraft Co., St. Louis, Mo., and United Technologies Pratt & Whitney Division, West Palm Beach, Fla., will participate in the research program with Ames-Dryden. - end -