Airbrake Design for Baseline Configuration of Advanced Jet Trainers/Light Attack Airplanes and Military Combat Airplanes

Figure of merit expression for airbrake size in terms of airplane weight, flight Mach number and airbrake deflection is derived. Airbrake design data of nineteen airplanes are analyzed and linear correlations between airbrake size and airplane weight are evolved to enable the airplane designer choose the airbrake size for base-line design configuration of advanced jet trainers/light attack airplanes and military combat airplanes. Besides, design guidelines regarding choice of other parameters are briefly outlined.