THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF SUBSONOC AND
SUPERSONIC AIRFLOW EFFECTS ON F 104
FOREWORD
It is indeed surprising to
discover that after all these years of flying supersonic fighter aircraft, there are a
large number of pilots who are actually not aware of all the factors of supersonic flight.
They literally have been flying in an area of UNKNOWN. This situation was brought to my attention in discussions
with the operational pilots during SURE visits to their F-104 bases. In my attempt to find
material they could study and refer to, I was appalled at the lack of any pilot-oriented
information explaining the various, intricate phenomena of subsonic and supersonic
airflow. Any books and written matter on these subjects were based on mathematics and
aerodynamics that could only be understood by pilots with an engineering education. And as I have stated in other SURE lectures, the Pilot’s Handbook is limited by its main purpose of
telling you what to do …not why for or how come. For example, there is only a brief,
blunt description of supersonic flight in the handbook, and I can assure you that the
supersonic regime opens a whole new world of aerodynamic effects on fighter aircraft.
One of the oldest, proven methods of learning certain characteristics
of aircraft (that were due to airflow effects on the design) was the "word of
mouth" explanation among pilots. To a certain extent, this method still exists. But
aircraft performance has leaped from the simple, basic flight regimes to encompassing
vastly different and rapidly growing flight envelopes. The task of informing other fellow
pilots of the subtleties and intricacies of these devastating airflow effects becomes
therefore correspondingly more difficult. Sometimes before we can even catch up with the
performance of the aircraft the designers have given us, we’ve already blundered into
accidents that might have been prevented…had we but known certain airfiow
characteristics. In rny dim memory, as I first started flying, I remember a statement that
imbedded itself upon me, "flying is not inherently dangerous, but the Air,like the
Sea, is terribly unforgiving of mistakes". So obviously, without an adequate
knowledge of supersonic flight effects, you will be at a loss to understand some of the
natural phenomena and you might unknowingly operate the aircraft in the wrong manner. In
addition to studying the supersonic regime, there is still a large area of subsonic flight
that needs to be explained for a better and more complete knowledge of flight in the
Silver Sliver.
In order to fully know the behavior of the F 104 from takeoff to mach 2.0 and back to
landingm, it will be necessary for you to study the airflow patterns around the aircraft
and their effects on the flying characteristics. Only by this study, will you add a few
more "feathers" to your tail. They are hidden but distinguishable and
identifying signs of a professional airman. Therefore, with Lockeed’s continuing
effort to help you through the SURE project, this lecture has been written to inform you
of the important airflow aspects of subsonic and supersonic and supersonic flight in the
F104 Starfighter. It is to be hoped that recommendations in this lecture will be absorbed
in your Squadron SOP’s and Pilot’s Information Files: I believe this knowledge
will prevent further incidents and accidents caused by lack of awaeùreness of the effects
of airflow.
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