Lag in Aircraft Altitude Measuring Systems

Abstract

The nature of pressure lag in aircraft altitude measuring systems is discussed and several methods of lag correction are compared. Based upon an extensive experimental program an improved method of lag correction is proposed. Using the lag correction procedure outlined in this report indicated altitude can be corrected to true pressure altitude to an accuracy of 0.5 percent. Other instrumentation uncertainties prevent the attainment of greater accuracy. The influence of the instrumentation system temperature and the pitot-static probe surface temperature on the pressure lag are shown through theoretical and experimental analysis. Instrumentation system temperature has a moderate effect on the lag. The probe surface temperature, however, has no discernible influence on the lag. A system and procedure for ground lag checking on an aircraft static pressure system is presented in an appendix to the report.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1963
Accession Number
AD0427017

Entities

People

  • Kirk S. Irwin

Organizations

  • Air Force Test Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Air Force
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircrafts
  • Altimeters
  • Altitude
  • Equations
  • Fluid Flow
  • Geometry
  • Indicating Instruments
  • Instrument Panels
  • Instrumentation
  • Jet Aircraft
  • Measurement
  • Sea Level
  • Static Pressure
  • Surface Temperature

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Geodesy
  • Mathematics or Statistics