A piloted simulation was used to study the feasibility of a balloon assisted deployment of a research aircraft at high altitude. In the simulation study, an unmanned, modified sailplane was carried to 110,000 ft with a high altitude balloon and released in a nose down attitude. A remote pilot controlled the aircraft through a pullout and then executed a zoom climb to a trimmed, 1 g flight condition. A small parachute was used to limit the Mach number during the pullout to avoid adverse transonic effects. The use of small rocket motor was studied for increasing the maximum attainable altitude. Aerodynamic modifications to the basic sailplane included applying supercritical airfoil gloves over the existing wing and tail surfaces. The aerodynamic model of the simulated aircraft was based on low Reynolds number wind tunnel tests and computational techniques, and included large Mach number and Reynolds number effects at high altitude. Parametric variations were performed to study the effects of launch altitude, gross weight, Mach number limit, and parachute size on the maximum attainable stabilized altitude. A test altitude of approx. 95,000 ft was attained, and altitudes in excess of 100,000 ft was attained.
Piloted Simulation Study of a Balloon-Assisted Deployment of an Aircraft at High Altitude
1992
33 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Aircraft , Parachutes & Decelerators , Aeronautics , Aerodynamic characteristics , Computerized simulation , Flight conditions , Gliders , High altitude balloons , Mach number , Pilotless aircraft , Remotely piloted vehicles , Airfoils , Climbing flight , Low reynolds number , Parachutes , Remote control , Research aircraft , Tail surfaces , Wind tunnel tests