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McDonnell Douglas F-15S/MTD
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NOTE: RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.



Specifications

    Primary Function:
    Crew:
    Engines:
    Thrust:
    Weight Empty:
    Max. Weight:
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    First Flight:
experimental
two
P&W F100-PW200
2- 29,000 lbs ea.
28,600 lbs.
56,000 lbs.
11,525 lbs.
63' 10"
42' 10"
570 mph
1,650 mph
50,000 fpm
65,000 feet
3,450 miles
9/7/88








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Overview:
The McDonnell Douglas F-15S/MTD was a modified F-15B Eagle designed to test STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) and improved maneuverability.

S M T D stands for "Short take off landing Maneuverability Technology Demonstrator." Later designations for the aircraft were F-15 ACTIVE which stands for "Advanced Control Technology for Integrated Vehicles" and F-15 IFCS which stands for "Intelligent Flight Control Systems."

The S M T D had canards up front with the tail of a F/A-18 Hornet. It was fitted with a ALG system (Automatic Landing Guidance) plus the heavy-duty landing gear of the Strike Eagle. The canards could be used differentially for flight control. After 43 tests in this configuration the plane was further fitted with "vector thrust" exhausts which could operate as thrust reversers and move up or down by 20 degrees. Ninety five more tests were conducted in this configuration under the ACTIVE program.

The S M T D program was judged a success although the technology wasn't incorporated into the production F-15's. The F-22 Raptor and F-35 JSF were able to use the technology gathered through the programs.

Development:
A prototype F-15 was used for the S/MTD program. It was not transferred to NASA, but its official status was "on loan." NASA received the aircraft frame only.

In further experiments the same airframe participated in Intelligent Flight Control Systems (IFCS) and Advanced Control Technology for Integrated Vehicles (ACTIVE) research.

Features and Innovations:
Exhaust vectoring of + or - 20 degrees from any plane.

A number of computer controlled flight systems made thousands of corrections per second in the flight controls to enable a combination of horizontal and vertical aircraft surfaces enhancing the performance of extreme maneuvers at walking to supersonic speeds.

With its canards angled to work as air brakes and reverse thrust vectoring, the F-15S/MTD had the stopping and short take off abilities of a STOL aircraft.

Missions:
The mission of the S/MTD program was the improvement of Air Base Operations when  air field facilities experienced combat conditions.

The military wanted to test the abilities of aircraft with extremely high maneuverability to either withstand or circumvent battle damages to runways while remaining operational. The F-15S/MTD was instrumental in this program.

Much like today's modern fighter aircraft, the F-15S/MTD employed thrust vectoring with forward canards for increased maneuverability.

The F-15S/MTD demonstrated abilities and performance superior to the standard F-15 jet fighter.



Radio Control Airplane
RC F-15S/MTD built by Sergio Vergara.


Pictured above is the F-15 S/MTD rc airplane scratch built by Sergio Vergara. The radio control airplane has a wingspan of 57" and a length of 81". Sergio powers his scale model radio control airplane with a JetCat P120 turbine. All up weight is around 21 lbs.

The two pictures below are of the rc F-15 S/MTD / ACTIVE built by Lacerated Sky RC from modified Steve Shumate plans. It is made from 6 mm Depron and has a 28" wingspan. Axi brushless motors turn thrust vectoring WeMoTec fan units. Weight is about 20 oz.

The F-15 S/MTD / ACTIVE / IFCS series of aircraft make interesting and colorful scale model rc airplanes. We are surprised not to find more examples of these radio control airplanes.

Please email us if you know of  a F-15S/MTD scale model rc airplane.


Radio Control Airplane
The rc F-15S/MTD built by Lacerated Sky RC.


Radio Control Airplane
Lacerated Sky RC F-15S/MTD in flight.