REPEATABILITY OF THE OVER-ALL ERRORS OF AN AIRPLANE ALTIMETER INSTALLATION IN LANDING-APPROACH OPERATIONS
Abstract
Flight tests were conducted to determine the repeatability of the over-all altimetry errors in the landing-approach condition of two sensitive altimeters (Air Force type C-12) installed in the cockpit of a transport airplane and of four precision altimeters (Air Force type MA-1) installed in a photo-observer. Data were obtained through a speed range of 62 to 100 knots during 42 landing-approach operations conducted on four different days. The results of the tests show that the repeatability errors of the two sensitive altimeters are + or -35 ft and + or -39 ft. These errors are of the same order as the maximum repeatability error measured in previous tests of eleven airplanes of the same type. For each of the four flights of the present tests the mean values of the data obtained with the two sensitive altimeters shifted by relatively large amounts, apparently because of the interaction of the stability and aftereffect-recovery characteristics of the instruments. For concurrent measurements of the over-all errors of the four precision altimeters, it is concluded that for comparable installations, the repeatability errors measured with these altimeters would be smaller than those measured with the sensitive altimeters. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0257065
Entities
People
- Joseph W. Stickle
- William Gracey
Organizations
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration