NASA X31 | The Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability Demonstrator at Edwards AFB

Part of the NASA technology demonstrators, X-31 was designed to test thrust vectoring technology by using a delta wing, canards, and vectored thrust from the engine. Designed and built by Rockwell and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm or MBB, The X-31 was part of a joint US and German project known as the Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability program or EFM. The goal of the EFM was to use thrust vectoring and an advanced flight control system to provide enhanced control authority in pitch and yaw, this resulted in significantly more maneuverability than most conventional fighters. A true international testbed aircraft, the X-31 operated out of Edwards AFB and was part of some NASA Dryden experiments. Let’s take a look at the Specifications for the X-31: Specifications Length: 43 FT 4 IN ( M) Height: 14 ft 7 IN ( M) Wingspan: 23 FT 10 IN ( M) WingArea: 2,436 sq FT2 (226.3 M2) Maximum speed: 782 KN (1,449 KM/H, 900 MPH) Mach Empty weight: : 11,409 lb (5,175 kg) Loaded weight: Max. takeoff weight: 35,131 LB (15,935 KG) Engine Thrust Class GENERAL ELECTRIC F404-GE-400 turbofan engine, 71 KN (16,000 LBF) THRUST Link to the F-15 ACTIVE video: Support this channel: Join the Discord: Design support provided by BVR: Credits/Attributions: “The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.“ NASA footage and images courtesy of Photography Credits: X31 on display at museum photo: Vestman from Helsinki, Finland / CC BY () Saab Viggen Photo: Alan Wilson / CC BY-SA () Dassault Rafale Photo: Tim Felce (Airwolfhound) / CC BY-SA () Music from “Hiding Your Reality“ by Kevin MacLeod () License: CC BY () This video is an opinion editorial commentary. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use purposes such as criticism, commentary, parody, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. All works used in this video (Images, audio etc) belong to their respective authors (This does not include the audio commentary or licensed BGM). avgeek