Hover control tests on the Flying Test Bed (FTB) developed to study problems associated with hovering and vertical takeoff and landing operations of VTOL aircraft were described. The tests were carried out in four steps: (1) three preliminary tests and five semi-constrained attitude control tests (roll and pitch) by remote controlled step-input, (2) twelve semi-constrained attitude control tests by two pilots (in two-and three-degree-of-freedom), (3) four tie-down tests with the crew, (4) two ground operation tests and five free flight tests by two pilots. The semi-constrained attitude tests showed good characteristics of the attitude control system including the automatic stabilization equipment of the FTB. The tie-down tests showed no adverse effects from the exhaust gas. The free flight hover control tests showed good control characteristics for force gradients, sensitivities, power, rate damping levels and overall effects on pilot feeling. (Author)
Hover Control Tests on Flying Test Bed for VTOL Aircraft
1975
65 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch