4.4.10 SPEED BRAKES | page 75 (of 220)
http://www.robertheffley.com/docs/HQ...IR_2002_71.pdf (3Mb)
“Many historic Navy aircraft extended speed brakes on CV approach. This provided several benefits.
First, the increased drag of the speed brakes moved the bottom of the drag bucket to a lower speed, moving the Vpa closer to the frontside of the power-required curve, and thus improving the flightpath stability. Next, the additional drag necessitated a higher mean power setting, with two consequent benefits. A higher mean power point enabled faster, more linear thrust response, thereby improving GS tracking.
Furthermore, the higher mean power setting permitted a quicker transition to full power in the event of either bolter or waveoff. This, together with simultaneous stowage of the speed brakes, permitted more rapid achievement of the maximum excess power. While not deployed by the F/A-18A-D models on approach, speed brakes remain a viable means of improving the handling and performance on approach (e.g., operationally deployed EA-6B and F-14).”