Flying Qualities Evaluation RU-21A CEFIRM LEADER Airplane.
Abstract
The United States Army Aviation Engineering Flight Activity conducted a flying qualitites evaulation of the RU-21A CEFIRM LEADER airplane. Flight tests encompassed 6.8 flight hours. Testing was conducted to evaluate the handling qualities of the RU-21A CEFIRM LEADER airplane within the contractor-developed flight envelope. The design changes incorporated in the RU-21A CEFIRM LEADER aircraft produced no significant change in the aircraft handling qualities. The contractor's flight envelope was determined to be acceptable and it is recommended that the RU-21A CEFIRM LEADER supplement to the oeprator's manual incorporate stall airspeed data on the results of these tests. Five shortcomings were determined but need not be corrected until future designs. They are, in order of importance: excessive right aileron displacement required during the approach and landing sequence, ineffective lateral trim system, inaudible stall warning at high power settings, early activation of the artificial stall warning system, and high pilot workload in airspeed and altitude retention. Within the scope of this evaluation, the flight handling qualities of the RU-21A CEFIRM LEADER airplane are acceptable.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1974
- Accession Number
- ADA109514
Entities
People
- John N. Johnson
- Michael A. Hawley
- Robert L. Stewart