An Investigation of the Potential Benefits of Direct Sideforce Control from a Mission Viewpoint.
Abstract
A Direct Sideforce Control (DSFC) system has been developed to increase agility and weapon delivery accuracy of tactical combat aircraft. This is accomplished through significant improvements in the lateral-directional maneuverability and handling qualities of the aircraft. The DSFC uses a chin mounted aerodynamic control surface, together with the rudder, to produce sideforce. Among other things this permits the pilot to execute turns more rapidly, make very precise heading changes with wings level and zero sideslip, and to trim out crosswinds without rolling or changing aircraft heading. The pilots who flew a weapon delivery task with the DSFC on a large amplitude moving base simulator felt that the high lateral accelerations (up to 1 g) generated by the DSFC should not have any adverse physiological effects on the pilot. These pilots also demonstrated that significant improvements in weapon delivery accuracy can be realized when DSFC is used, as opposed to the conventional flight control control system. An analytic pilot model was used to evaluate the advantages of DSFC for other tasks. The implications of adding DSFC to an existing aircraft were studied in terms of the flight control system hardware requirements, aircraft structural strength, aerodynamic characteristics and the effects on the propulsion system. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 31, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0912576
Entities
People
- E. Frank Carlson
Organizations
- Boeing