posted on Dec, 18 2005 @ 04:19 AM
Though I think I'm stating the obvious, that is nothing more than just a 3-D rendering someone slapped together. First of all, for the F-15 active
program, the canards that were attached to the F-15s were actually reworked elevator fins from the Hornet. Seeing as how both planes have ties to
McDonnell Douglas, they just used existing tech they had lying around which fit the bill. The only 2 highly modified versions of the F-18 that I know
of are:
1) HARV (HighAlpha Research Vehicle) Started in '87 and lasted 10 years, this project was used to test the limits of a fighter's ability to engage
a target using high angles of atacks. Eventually the project led to the Aircraft being fitted with experimental thrust-vectoring engines.
NASA F-18 HARV
2)Next, starting in 2001,NASA began experiments with a modified F-18 that featured AAW's, or Active Aeroelastic Wings. These extended, reinforced
wing structures are desinged to actually TWIST in place slightly to allow the plane to roll and bank without relying solely on just the use of
traditional ailerons and leading-edge flaps.
NASA F-18 AAW
[edit on 18-12-2005 by PrototypeGamma]
[edit on 18-12-2005 by PrototypeGamma]