As part of a continuing NASA program of research on airplane handling qualities, a pilot opinion investigation has been made on the lateral control requirements of fighter aircraft flying in their combat speed range. The investigation was carried out using a stationary flight simulator and a moving flight simulator, and the flight simulator results were supplemented by research tests in actual flight. The flight simulator study was based on the presumption that the pilot rates the roll control of an airplane primarily on a single-degree-of-freedom basis; that is, control of angle of roll about the aircraft body axis being of first importance. From the assumption of a single degree of freedom system it follows that there are two fundamental parameters which govern the airplane roll response, namely the roll damping expressed as a time constant and roll control power in terms of roll acceleration. The simulator study resulted in a criterion in terms of these two parameters which defines satisfactory, unsatisfactory, and unacceptable roll performance from a pilot opinion standpoint. The moving simulator results were substantiated by the in-flight investigation. The derived criterion was compared with the roll performance criterion based upon wing tip helix angle and also with other roll performance concepts which currently influence the roll performance design of military fighter aircraft flying in their combat speed range.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Pilot Opinion Study of Lateral Control Requirements for Fighter-Type Aircraft


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1959


    Size :

    46 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    A Pilot Opinion Study of Lateral Control Requirements for Fighter-Type Aircraft

    Creer, Brent Y. / Stewart, John D. / Merrick, Robert B. et al. | NTRS | 1959



    A Flight Study of Requirements for Satisfactory Lateral Oscillatory Characteristics of Fighter Aircraft

    Liddell, Charles J , Jr / Creer, Brent Y / Van Dyke, Rudolph D , Jr | NTRS | 1951