FLIGHT TEST

C o m b a t
Flight International
put s t he Ra fa le BOl
t wo -sea t pro t o t ype t o
t he t est in it s hea vy
co nfigura t io n
rea d y
CHRIS Y E O / I S T R E S FLIGHT TEST CENTRE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK WAGNER
P
ROTOTYP E FIGHTERS are usually
first seen by the public at air shows. They
are presented in an optimum configura-
tion without large, heavy, drag-producing
external stores and with a reduced fuel load to
minimise gross weight.
Recognition of the multirole nature of mod-
ern combat aircraft has resulted in more and
more air displays with external stores fitted.
These performances show what the aircraft's
capabilities are in close combat near the end of a
sortie.
This is only part of the story, however. Front-
line fighters are expected to be capable of more
than one role and will be certificated to carry a
wide range of external stores including bombs,
missiles and pods. Even a pure fighter will nor-
mally be loaded with external fuel tanks to
extend the basic aircraft's range and endurance.
The aircraft and pilot will then be required to fly
and fight in these heavy configurations.
Ex-British Aerospace test pilot Chris Yeo and Dassault chief test pilot Yves Kerherve with Rafale BOl
56
To be used effectively, the flight control sys-
tem (FCS) must still allow the aircraft to be
flown aggressively, with as little restriction on
the allowable manoeuvre envelope as is prac-
tical. Fighter pilots have long known that, if
they can force an enemy to drop its external
stores, the attackhas been neutralised -what-
ever the outcome of the resulting combat.
The aircraft in this test, the tandem-seat
Rafale BOl powered bytwo 16,8501b (75kN)
thrust (with reheat) Snecma M88-2 engines,
was at the time of my flight being prepared
for display at the P aris air show with an
impressive range of fuel tanks and armaments
fitted under the wings.
The test configuration included three
2,0001itre (530USgal) fuel tanks, two SCALP
cruise missiles weighing 1,3 00kg (2,8601b) each
and four Mica fire-and-forget air-to-air mis-
siles. For a small aircraft such as the Rafale, this
is a heavy load - but one that promises to allow
a thorough evaluation of the aircraft's flight
control system and performance.
PROTOTYPE WEIGHT LIMIT
P rototype Rafales are limited to a maximum
take-off weight of 19,500kg, although, after a
modification to the undercarriage, the produc-
tion aircraft will be cleared to 22,500kg.
Eventually, die maximum take-off weight may
be further increased to 24,500kg. The empty
weight of the aircraft was 10,000kg, with the
external stores contributing a further 4,500kg
to give a weight without fuel of 14,500kg. The
maximum fuel load that could be carried was
therefore 5,000kg, of which 8001itres, weighing
680kg, was in the centreline fuel tank.
The prototypes have been tested to 2 2,5 00kg
FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 23 - 29 June 1999