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The specially equipped and instrumented F/A-18 research aircraft that was used in NASA's High Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV) program banks high over snow-capped mountains near the Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, California.
The aircraft was equipped with a colored dye fluid system which emits dye from ports in the nose to record surface flow at various angles of attack. It was also equipped with a smoke generating system to visualize flow fields developing at the forward portion of the aircraft. Onboard cameras located in the vertical tips recorded the flow.

The HARV program compiled a database for designers of future aircraft to create high performance aircraft that are safer and more controllable in high angle of attack flight, capable of supermaneuvers and that avoid post production design changes.