The International Rafale forum

Like most modern combat aircraft the Rafale was designed as a 9 g fighter and the AdA required an airframe life of 7000 h. We know that during fatigue testing a Rafale M airframe reached the 10000 h mark, considering more demanding naval operations. Dassault states the g limits with -3.2g/+9g and it is known that with g-override there is a max. limit of 11g. Yet I read that an 8 g in service limit has been applied, though Rafale pilots often exceed that limit.
So my first question is:
- If there is such a limit, what is the reason behind it? Could it be that the predictions weren't accurate enough and that the 8 g soft limit was introduced to ensure that the required service life of 7000 h is achieved?

The max stable AoA was demonstrated to be 32°. In service aircraft have a soft limit of ~30° and a max. AoA of 100° was demonstrated.
My second question is:
- If FCS override is used is there any specific AoA limit or can the pilot override it to the max. aerodynamically achievable value (~100°)

My third question is:
- Is g and AoA override coupled or is it necessary to override them seperately (I assume it's the first one as it would make more sense in my opinion)

My fourth and final question is:
- How is override activated? I mean to remember it is handled with mechanical stops on the stick, but I'm not sure on that.

The reason behind it is MEDICAL.
=>Protection of the crew (especially on a two-seater).
When european countries introduced the F-16, there has been accidents due to its brutal reactions. This worried some doctors in the AdA, and though the M2000 was ok with 9G, they required a service limit at 8G on Rafale. Same applies to the G-Onset.

The AdA initially planned on 5,000 h/3000 landings. The aircraft has shown capable of 7,000 h/3500 landings.

Thus, the 8G service limit is not due to a technical matter. Really.


I have to investigate a bit.

Didn't know that the AdAs original requirement was for just 5000 h. Crew protection sounds reasonable as well, especially if you consider that some of the pilots come from less manoeuvrable aeroplanes. Does this limit applies to all variants or just to the B? Is it known when this limit was introduced, before or after the crash?

Extract from Fox Three n°9 :



This is for all the variants (commonality) and has nothing to do with the crash.

Thanks. Sometimes details escape me.

First things first:

The number of hours is not a good indicator of the aircraft structural integrity and strength simply because it can be variable depending on the flight conditions.

What matters is the international standard which applies to all aircrafts and is calculated over the normal flight envelop Maximum number of g.

Load factors......................................................+9g/-3.2g
Max speed..........................................................M 1.8+/750 kts
Approach speed................................................120 knots
Landing distance................................................450 m (1,475 ft)
Max climb rate....................................................Over 1,000 ft/sec
Operational ceiling..............................................55,000 ft
Radius of action (penetration mission)...............More than 1,000 nautical miles
Combat air patrol loiter time................................Over 3 hours
http://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/def ... s.html?L=1
Source: Dassault-Aviation




Dassault indicates a +9.0 g and - 3.2g as "domaine de vol" not 8.0g -3.0g.

I dont believe that there is a 8 g limiter on Rafale but a sound alarm is more plausible, we can ear it in some of the vids and this can be easly pre-set by the pilot without having to mess with the FCS...

There is a limiter at 8g. Dot.

I'll move the rest of your message elsewhere.

I think it's your turn to VALIDATE. Dot.

Enough of "on m'a dit" sources, for the time being Dassault-Aviation gives the aircraft at +9/-3.2 g.

Unless you can show us an official source saying otherwise this is hearsay...

An BTW i find you taste for sencure quiet tiring...

Wingman,

I've sent you a PM just before i read this last message. My reaction may have been very different if i had read this message before I PMed you.

On one hand, you're true, so, i'll write it again :

There is a limiter at 8g. Dot.
suggestions-t4.html
I could have written it in GREEN, because several people from Dassault told me this.

On the other hand

Quote:

An BTW i find you taste for sencure quiet tiring...

You're free to start another forum on you own if you don't like this one.

Is the Rafale itself limited to 8g or it will have issues...

Or did the AdlA set the Rafale limiter to 8g to try increase the life of the airframes?

That would mean different things.