Handling Qualities Evaluation of a Supersonic Tailless Air Vehicle

Abstract

This thesis presents the results of a handling qualities evaluation of a supersonic tailless air vehicle. The 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review mandated the need for the next generation of long-range strike aircraft by 2018. Due to speed and stealth requirements, this resulted in a tailless aircraft with an instantaneous center of rotation located well forward of that of a conventional aircraft. This thesis examines how this center of rotation affected pilot handling qualities ratings. This effect should have been the most pronounced during approach and landing, and was where the testing focused. The goal of this research was to develop a systematic procedure for evaluating the handling qualities of this aircraft, and to determine how different pilot flying techniques or pilot-inceptor interactions influenced them. This procedure was demonstrated in simulator testing and in flight testing on the Calspan-operated Total In-Flight Simulator aircraft.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA484360

Entities

People

  • Steven W. Speares

Organizations

  • Air Force Test Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Configurations
  • Air Force
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Closed Loop Systems
  • Control Surfaces
  • Control Systems
  • Control Systems Engineering
  • Flight Simulators
  • Flight Testing
  • Prompt Global Strike
  • Students
  • Supersonic Transport Aircraft
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Methods

Readers

  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies

Technology Areas

  • Hypersonics
  • Hypersonics - Hypersonic Flow