ANALYSIS OF A PILOT-AIRPLANE LATERAL INSTABILITY EXPERIENCED WITH THE X-15 AIRPLANE
Abstract
An analysis is made of a lateral-control problem in which the pilot, through normal application of control, induces divergent oscillations in bank angle. The problem, first encountered in the X-15 simulator and later confirmed in flight, is explained through the use of rootlocus plots of the pilot-airplane combination in which the pilot is represented by a human transfer function. A parameter is developed which is useful for predicting the lateralcontrol problem and for showing the effect of the principal aerodynamic and inertial parameters. Also, means of determining regions in the flight envelope where the pilot-airplane would be susceptible to lateral instability are developed. The calculated lateral-control limits agree with the simulator- and flight-determined limits for the X-15 airplane. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0265916
Entities
People
- Lawrence W. Jr. Taylor
Organizations
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration