Thrust-vectored energy turns

Turning performance is studied in ‘energy approximation’ for aircraft incorporating thrust vectoring. Over much of the energy range, this capability provides a small efficiency improvement in energy rate and in sustainable turn rate. For aircraft with static thrust in excess of weight, a spectacular improvement in maneuverability is realized at energies low enough to permit hover; in energy approximation, this amounts to instantaneous turn capability. A numerical example illustrates the effect, which is dominant at low energies, and has influence at high energies as well.