The purpose of the test was to determine man's capability to visually detect, recognize, and estimate range to low-altitude aircraft. Twenty-seven Army enlisted men served as observers. The results indicate that man can defect and recognize low-altitude aircraft at a considerable range under near-optimum field conditions. The value of binoculars for aircraft detection was found to be dependent upon (a) observer offset from the aircraft flight path, (b) accuracy of early warning, (c) aircraft speed, and (d) exhaust smoke trail characteristics of the aircraft. Under the test conditions employed, binoculars reduced the detection range on the most potentially threatening targets, high-speed, head-on jet aircraft. The data show that large range estimation errors occurred. Filmed simulation of the recognition task appears promising as a training tool. (Author)
The Performance of Ground Observers in Detecting, Recognizing, and Estimating Range to Low-Altitude Aircraft
1966
35 pages
Report
No indication
English
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