F/A-18 Hornet's "Falling Leaf" -mode.

The out-of-control falling-leaf mode, shown in this video, is a highly dynamic mode where the aircraft oscillates so that it is very difficult to reduce angle of attack and recover. The term "alpha hang-up" was used to describe this problem with the F/A-18 and it was a key driver in establishing the aft center of gravity and the maneuvering limits for the aircraft. During early operational use of the F/A-18, the falling-leaf mode was rarely encountered; however, by the early 1990's increasingly aggressive maneuvering had exposed a susceptibility to the falling-leaf mode with numerous incidents and losses of aircraft.

The falling-leaf name comes originally from a maneuver originated during World War I as a flight training exercise. In this exercise, pilots intentionally stalled the aircraft and forced a series of incipient spins to the right and left. The aircraft descends as it rocks back and forth, much as a leaf does falling to the ground.

Note: The Finnish Air Force lost their first F/A-18D Hornet (HN-468) on 21st of January, 2010. This infamous "Falling Leaf" feature of the Hornet is believed to be at least partially responsible for the lost of this latest FiAF aircraft.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Falling Leaf
• F-18
• F/A-18
• Hornet
• FiAF
• FINAF
• HN
• HN-468
• 468
• Frankenplane
• Juupajoki
• Halli
• Patria
• Ilmavoimat
• Koelento
• Tailslide
• Pyrstöluisu
• Finnish Air Force
• Jetstream
• CF-18
• Royal Canadian Air Force
• RCAF

[sanomabizz]

"Note: The Finnish Air Force lost their first F/A-18D Hornet (HN-468) on 21st of January, 2010. This infamous "Falling Leaf" feature of the Hornet is believed to be at least partially responsible for the lost of this latest FiAF aircraft."

Niinkö...? asiantuntija...?

[mrmakemakkara]

F-18 HORNET PILOT MP FINNISH AIR FORCE