COMPARATIVE FLIGHT EVALUATION OF LONGITUDINAL HANDLING QUALITIES IN CARRIER APPROACH,
Abstract
Simulated carrier approaches were flown by five pilots in a variable-stability Navion airplane. Frequency and damping of the short period mode were varied through augmentation of dimensional pitching moment due to delta angle of attack and the dimensionaal pitching moment due to time rate of change of pitch attitude derivatives. Control sensitivity (stick-to-elevator gearing) was a third variable. All flights were visual, in daylight, and in light to moderate natural turbulence. The approach speed of 105 knots was well up on the front side of the power curve. Configurations with frequency > 1.4 and damping > 0.2 were found to be satisfactory. Short period dynamics typical of current carrier aircraft in landing approach were found acceptable, despite relatively high frequency phugoid dynamics inherent in the simulation. Comparison is made with data taken from a similar study which used a variable-stability jet trainer. Pilot ratings and preferred control sensitivities are shown to be in good agreement. The enclosed data is plotted on several proposed handling qualities design criteria including one which takes the derivative L (angle of attack) into consideration. Comparison is also made with two proposed criteria of the time history type. Control sensitivity was found to be a critical parameter for some configurations, and of little consequence for others. Stick force per g, which varied to extremes in the simulation, is concluded to be a noncritical parameter in landing approach under the tested flight conditions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0487660
Entities
People
- John A. Eney
Organizations
- Princeton University