F-18 HARV

During the late 1980s, NASA decided to deepen its understanding of flight at high angles of attack, or alpha. For this purpose, it created the High Angle-of-Attack Technology Program, or HATP.

A unique aircraft was selected among thousands to participate in the program. It was the infamous F-18 Hornet. Previously used by the Navy for testing purposes, the chosen example was the sixth Hornet built by McDonnell Douglas Corporation.

However, the aircraft had been severely cannibalized for spare parts throughout the years, and it was so mangled that the Navy believed it would never fly again.

Still, the engineers carried on and believed in what would eventually be remembered as the legendary F-18 High Angle-of-Attack Research Vehicle, providing the foundations on how to handle all future American fighter aircraft...
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[sid]

Test Pilot: OK, what do you want me to do?
NASA: Everything wrong on purpose.

Test Pilot: Cool!

[matthewwheat]

This plane gives me the impression of the f-22's scrappy smaller but older brother. He paved the way in the local high school for his younger brother to be the more attractive popular kid with his exploits of climbing the water tower. The f-22 was built with the research data obtained by this plane.

[hewlett-packardlovecraft]

I know it's popular among viewers of the Dark family of channels to shit all over the footage not syncing with the topic, but nobody praises them when they get it right. This episode has the most relevant footage to topic ratio I've seen in quite a while, and that's coming from someone who gave up caring about that quite some time ago, and learned to just enjoy the channels for what they are.

[Scrapy-ihob]

As a NAVY Retired Aircraft mechanic, the two commands I was stationed with where the best years of NVAY life, pilots loved to fly it. was fairly simple to work on, as my career progressed, I was able to "Start the aircraft" for Maintenace and the was awesome experience. for these experiments to take place after production, must have been hell of good time. Great Video

[gusthehtpc]

This aircraft paved the way for other flight research projects like the F-16 VISTA. I has a thrust vectoring nozzle like the one on HARV, and acts as an in-flight trainer with variable control laws which makes it capable of simulating the maneuvering performance of other aircraft.

[mrbig]

A lot of naval aviators especially the guys from the mid 1970’s thru to 2000 disliked the hornet at first, they were flying the f-14 tomcat which was a legend among planes that flew off of American carriers, it had speed, great weapons, very importantly its legs, and of course it was made famous in top gun . The original hornet which was a 2nd place finisher to the f-16 when the air force was shopping around for a light weight, cheaper to build, fast, and nimble aircraft that was going to be exported to are allies around the globe . The navy discovered the f 18 which was called the yf17 back then and turned it into the naval version of what we see today. .

[TheFlutecart]

Super Hornets still roam the ocean skies. Excellent aircraft.

[MultiThunder]

Love all the hard work you put in for your channels! Big fan of your work!

[markr]

Worked for Hughes Aircraft Co. 1984 through the 1990's at NAS Lemoore operating and maintaining the F/A-18 flight simulators and weapons tactic trainers. I remember when we had the NASA pilots come through the training syllabus to learn to fly the F/A-18 Hornet. At the time its was the A/B, C models with the D models starting up.

[Yukikazehalo]

Love that plane, the paintjob really stands out.

[SHINR__]

I literally just did research on this plane last night, thanks man.

[gabedarrett]

I loved this video! Experimental research aircraft shown here made me want to work in this field! Thanks for what you do; it doesn't go unappreciated!

[nigeljuniorpeters]

OMG MY FAVOURITE JET THANK YOU! CLICKED SO FREAKING FAST, the f16 and f15s with thurst vectoring too!

[JZ]

After watching this and listening to an interview of a F-22 pilot who talked about how the aircraft flies, I would be astonished if lessons learned from this weren't used in the F-22's flight control system.

[IWSFODD]

I'm looking forward to an episode about the F-15 S/MTD and eventually ACTIVE program. Great video!

[schlix]

The F18 has always been my favorite design of a jet fighter aircraft. Beautifully sleek aircraft!

[pigeonpoo]

More more more of these experimental aircraft please.

[stevenvelazquez]

I love this aircraft and was privileged to work on this aircraft from 1986 to 1990 as a power plants mech and flight line crew during my time with USMC 3rd Air wing, MAG11, MCAS El Toro, CA (now closed) with Squadrons VMFA-314 Black Knights and VMFAT-101 Sharpshooters (training sqd for pilots). This is just the information publicly released, there is much more that it is not ever shared. This aircraft is a beast and workhorse. The maintenance was fairly easy and we could safely R&R a GE F404 Turbofan engine in just a few hours. I miss those days...

[jonniez]

Just amazing the number of test vehicles I saw at Edwards in the 90s.

[BASSHOLE]

By far the most incredible F-18 I've ever seen!