Since they are still a huge aerodynamic surface, they rather fall like a leaf, possibly in a flat spin, but that depends on many factors. Much slower than a rock, but for most practical purposes you are right: fast and uncontrolled and essentially vertical.

[–] LufyCZ@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How about a rock the size of an F-35?

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

A rock the size of an f35 would fall like a rock the size of an f35, but it wouldn't fall like an f35. Different density.

Most modern fighter jet aircraft are barely even able to fly, they can only do so because of flight computers changing the wing parameters hundreds times a second. If the flight computer is destroyed or otherwise deactivated then you're relying purely on the vehicles aerodynamics, which are intentionally terrible.

Because the vehicle always wants to fall out of the sky it gives it insane manoeuvrability. To turn left sharply you basically just encourage the aircraft to fall out of the sky a little bit to the left until you've completed your turn, and then you stabilise. Of course this is way too difficult for a pilot to deal with so the flight computer does it instead.