Originally Posted by Tourist
Why is the rocket on the NF-104 angled upwards?
Here's my guess. The rocket motor is mounted significantly above the longitudinal fuselage datum, in other words the thrust acts above the aircraft's CofG. If mounted parallel to LFD it would cause quite a big derotational moment (a pitch down force). At very high alitude with little or no aerodynamic control it would mean applying a continuous nose up moment using the RCS. THe pitch down effect of the rocket
may have exceded the control authority of the RCS. By pointing the thrust line of the rocket through, or closer to the CofG, the problem goes away. Look where the line of thrust is acting here - looks like through the centre of the ac.
If you want to mount a rocket pack below the CofG, you'd need to angle it downwards. In NF-104 I would think that mounting it low would just have been yet another big drag penalty.
Just an idea. I'm surprised one of the QFIs or TPs around here didn't come up with that. Unless, of course, I'm completely wrong.
