EC01-0267-4 Flying an Autonomous Formation Flight mission, two F/A-18's from the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, gain altitude near Rogers Dry Lake. The Systems Research Aircraft (tail number 845) and F/A-18 tail number 847 are flying the second phase of a project that is demonstrating a 15-percent fuel savings of the trailing aircraft during cruise flight. Project goal was a 10-percent savings. The drag-reduction study mimics the formation of m
igrating birds. Scientists have known for years that the trailing birds require less energy than flying solo. › Read Project DescriptionSeptember 20, 2001 NASA Photo / Lori Losey
