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<p>The Joint Strike Fighter programme has completed an extensive period of dedicated
development flight test to both assess the impact of uncommanded wing drop (called
transonic roll off) and mitigate its impact. The results of flight test have been
to use a combination of control surface inputs from the leading edge flaps, trailing
edge flaps and horizontal tails which have been applied differentially using software
driven flight controls when the aircraft is operating at elevated angles of attack
in the transonic flight condition.</p><p>It is extremely difficult to totally remove
transonic roll from the transonic area of the flight regime, but these changes in
the software control laws have lessened its severity and it has been assessed that
they are now acceptable by the experienced flight crews that have flown with them.
The programme leadership, which includes the UK Ministry of Defence, has concluded
that they will allow the aircraft and pilots to execute the mission. The programme
will continue to monitor and refine the flight control laws throughout the life of
the aircraft as the aircraft's capability develops and if the target set and mission
changes.</p>
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