A Comparison of Pilot Performance Using a Center Stick VS Sidearm Control Configuration.
Abstract
Six Air Force pilots having current flying status flew a series of forty-minute missions to compare pilot performance with the conventional center stick, dual side stick, and single side stick configurations. An F-111 flight simulator with three degrees-of-motion was employed as the test-bed for the experiment. The missions, which included climbout, a terrain following portion, two banking turns, and five Instrument Landing System (ILS) approaches, were designed to test the feasibility of side stick controllers under low-altitude, high-speed conditions. Course steering deviation, airspeed deviation, pitch deviation, and ILS evaluation scores were obtained using the computer to compare pilot performance using the three stick configurations. From the evaluation of the performance data and opinion questionnaires filled out by the pilots, it was concluded that side stick controllers are feasible for use in a relatively high-speed aircraft flying a low-altitude, high-speed mission, and that dual side sticks are preferable to single side sticks. Recommendations were made for further studies in several areas. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0720846
Entities
People
- David E. Thorburn
- James E. Cronburg
- Paul Kemmerling
- Richard Geiselhart