Northrop/United States Air Force F-5E Aircraft Fatigue Structural Integrity Program

The Northrop Corporation, Aircraft Division's F-5E air superiority fighter has successfully completed a comprehensive Aircraft Structural Integrity Program (ASIP), including a flight flutter and flight loads survey program, and a static test and fatigue test program. The primary objective of the ASIP master Plan was to insure that the aircraft's structural design would operate satisfactorily when subjected to the conditions associated with air-to-air combat and air-to-ground weapon delivery in peacetime and in hostile environments. The F-5E fatigue program was formulated during a transition phase of fundamental change in USAF Aircraft Structural Integrity Program Philosophy. Therefore, this program was primarily structured to meet existing requirements while utilizing state-of-the-art techniques in fatigue analysis and fracture mechanics.