LCFLF Example Lifing Assessment (2004): F/A-18 Vertical Tail Attachment Stubs

Abstract

As mentioned in Chap. 6, in 1996 the DST began a unique full-scale fatigue test, FT46, of an F/A-18 aft fuselage and empennage assembly. This test article was especially acquired for testing. The test combined buffet-induced dynamic loading and manoeuvre loading at representative load frequencies, which was a formidable challenge for buffet loading [136].