Does the inlet of the F-15 turn down?

[coolpick]

I went ahead and went to that airshow that was 150miles away(I got bored). Anyway after the F-15 did it's demo, they were doing its shut down right in show center, like 10 yards away. Anyway I though I seen the inlet tilted down about 10~15degrees, then tilt back to normal. I didn't know they could do that.

[Mobius]

The intake does "droop".  It allows more airflow at high angles of attack.

[Rifleman]

[quote]The intake does "droop".

[expat]

The intake does "droop".  It allows more airflow at high angles of attack.

In addition to that, it limits the volume of air at high speeds to slow down the air and prevents a stagnant buildup in front of the compressor. It can only be effective up to a certain speed......most high speed aircraft need that ability to control the incoming flow......variable intakes and variable exhausts are reported to be responsible for very high thrust levels at increasing Mach numbers.....

Regardless of the airspeed of the aircraft in question, it is vital that the speed of the air entering and then passing into the engine never exceeds that of the speed of sound.

Matt

[Mobius]

The intake does "droop".  It allows more airflow at high angles of attack.

In addition to that, it limits the volume of air at high speeds to slow down the air and prevents a stagnant buildup in front of the compressor. It can only be effective up to a certain speed......most high speed aircraft need that ability to control the incoming flow......variable intakes and variable exhausts are reported to be responsible for very high thrust levels at increasing Mach numbers.....

Regardless of the airspeed of the aircraft in question, it is vital that the speed of the air entering and then passing into the engine never exceeds that of the speed of sound.

Matt

And that is done through a different set of moving panels.  The drooping is for low speed and the panels inside the intake create shock fronts at supersonic speeds to slow the intake air down to subsonic speeds.

[Ivan]

Airbrakes in the intake... Concorde has them too, the Mig-25 doesnt (thats why it kills the engines at max speed... overspeeding the turbines)

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

Also during maneuvers/dogfights, it allows the engine to always get the best angle for air.