INTRODUCTION TO FLIGHT TEST ENGINEERING, VOLUME 1

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 Planning, Discipline, and Safety 1.1 Why Flight Test?1 1.2 Types of Flight Tests 1.2.1 Stage of Development 1.2.2 Developmental Versus Operational Testing 1.2.2.1 Develomental Test and Evaluation 1.2.2.2 Operational Test and Evaluation 1.3 Factors to be Considered in Test Planning 1.3.1 Safety 1.3.1.1 Hazardous Definition 1.3.1.2 Cause Identification 1.3.1.3 Risk Assessment 1.3.1.4 Risk Mitigation 1.3.1.4.1 Hardware Mitigation 1.3.1.4.2 Procedural Mitigation 1.3.1.5 Residual Risk Assessment 1.3.1.6 Emergency Response 1.3.2 Cost 1.3.3 Schedule 1.4 Summary References Chapter 2 Pitot-Static System Calibration 2.1 Foundations 2.1.1 Historical Perspective 2.1.2 Standard Atmosphere 2.1.3 Airspeed Theory 2.1.4 Pitot-Static Measurement Errors 2.1.4.1 Instrument Error 2.1.4.2 Pressure Lag Error 2.1.4.3 Position Error 2.2 Position Error Calibration Methods 2.2.1 Freestream Static Pressure Methods 2.2.1.1 Tower Flyby Method 2.2.1.2 Pacer Aircraft Technique 2.2.2 True Airspeed Methods 2.2.2.1 Speed Course Technique 2.2.2.2 GPS/INS Technique 2.2.3 Factors Affecting Position Error Measurements 2.3 Instrumentation 2.3.1 Instrumentation for Independent Pitot-Static Systems 2.3.2 Instrumentation for Interdependent Pitot-Static Systems 2.4 Summary References Chapter 3 Climb, Descent, and Turn Performance Test 3.1 Foundations 3.1.1 Historical Perspective 3.1.2 Requirements and Governing Equations 3.1.2.1 Fundamental Relationships 3.1.2.2 Steady State Approximation 3.1.2.3 Accelerated Climb Equations 3.1.3 The Energy Approximation 3.1.4 Forces in a Level, Unaccelerated Turn 3.1.4.1 Types of Turning Performance 3.1.4.2 Limitations on Turning Perfomance 3.1.4.2.1 Thrust-Limited (or Power-Limited) Turning Performance 3.1.4.2.2 Lift-Limited Turning Performance 3.1.4.2.3 Load-Limited (Structural) Turning Per- formance 3.1.5 Experimental Versus Analytical Performance Methods 3.1.5.1 Experimental Methods 3.1.5.2 Analytical Methods 3.2 Climb Performance and Turn Performance Test Methods 3.2.1 Climb Schedule Determination 3.2.1.1 Sawtooth Climb Method 3.2.1.2 Level Acceleration Method 3.2.2 Performance Climbs 3.2.2.1 Performance Climb Procedures 3.2.2.2 Performance Climb Data Reduction 3.2.2.3 Summary of Rate of Climb Corrections 3.2.3 Turn Performance Flight Test Techniques 3.2.3.1 Level, Unaccelerated Turn Technique 3.2.3.2 Level Acceleration Technique 3.3 Instrumentation 3.3.1 Instrumentation for Sawtoot Climbs 3.3.2 Instrumentation for Performance Climbs 3.3.3 Instrumentation for Level Accelerations 3.4 Summary References Chapter 4 Cruise Performance Tests 4.1 Foundations 4.1.1 Propeller-Driven Aircraft 4.1.1.1 Propeller Efficiency 4.1.1.2 Power Available 4.1.1.3 Corrections to BHP Available 4.1.2 Jet-Powered Aircraft 4.1.2.1 Buckingham's Pi Theorem 4.1.2.2 Combining Engine and Airframe Parameters 4.1.3 Endurance 4.1.3.1 Propeller-Driven Aircraft 4.1.3.2 Jet-Powered Aircraft 4.1.4 Range 4.1.4.1 Propeller-Driven Aircraft 4.1.4.2 Jet-Powered Aircraft 4.2 Cruise Performance Test Methods 4.2.1 Speed-Power Test Method for Propeller-Driven Airplanes 4.2.2 Speed-Power Test Method for Jet-Powered Airplanes 4.3 Instrumentation 4.3.1 Instrumentation Required for Cruise Performance 4.3.1.1 Power/Thrust Measurements to Verify Design Characteristics 4.3.1.2 Measurement of Engine Speed 4.3.2 Instrumentation for Flight Test Research 4.4 Summary References Chapter 5 Takeoff and Landing Flight Tests 5.1 Foundations 5.1.1 Definitions and Terminology 5.1.1.1 Takeoff and Landing 5.1.1.2 Ground Phase 5.1.1.3 Air Phase 5.1.1.4 Available Runway 5.1.1.5 Critical Field Length and Balanced Field Length 5.1.1.6 Critical Engine Failure Speed 5.1.1.7 Refusal Speed and Refusal Distance 5.1.1.8 Ground and Air Minimum Control Speeds 5.1.1.9 Safe Single Engine Speeds 5.1.2 Performance Equations 5.1.2.1 Ground Run Equations 5.1.2.2 Rotation Distance 5.1.2.3 Transition Distance 5.1.2.4 Climbout Distance 5.1.2.5 Summary of Equations 5.1.3 Parametric Analysis of Takeoff Performance 5.1.3.1 Key Parametric Assumptions 5.1.3.2 Basic Parametric Equation 5.2 Flight Test Methods 5.2.1 Requirements for Takeoff and Landing Flight Tests 5.2.1.1 Use of Mathematical Models and Simulation 5.2.1.2 Position and Velocity Measurement Techniques 5.2.2 Typical Part 23 Test Groups 5.2.2.1 Takeoff Tests 5.2.2.2 Landing Tests 5.3 Instrumentation 5.3.1 Proven Measurement Devices 5.3.1.1 Cinetheodolites 5.3.1.2 Tracking Radar 5.3.1.3 Distance Measuring Schemes 5.3.1.4 Laser Trackekrs 5.3.2 Other Measurement Schemes 5.3.2.1 Inertial Navigation System (INS) 5.3.2.2 Global Positioning System (GPS) 5.3.3 Integrated Measurement Schemes 5.4 Summary References chapter 6 Longitudinal Stability Tests 6.1 Foundations 6.1.1 Definitions 6.1.1.1 Sign Conventions 6.1.1.2 Angle of Attack and Sideslip 6.1.1.3 Inertial Orientation 6.1.1.4 Angular Velocity Transformations 6.1.1.5 Reversible and Irreversible Control Systems 6.1.2 Straight Flight Paths 6.1.2.1 Neutral Point Concepts 6.1.2.2 Elevator Trim Angle 6.1.2.3 Elevator-Free Considerations 6.1.3 Other Concepts of Static Stability 6.1.3.1 Speed Stability 6.1.3.2 Force Gradient for Speed Stability 6.1.3.3 Flight-Path Stability 6.2 Longitudinal Static Stability Test Methods 6.2.1 Stability and Control Flight Test Measurements 6.2.1.1 Trim 6.2.1.2 Friction and Breakout Forces 6.2.2 Stabilized Method 6.2.3 Slow Acceleration/Deceleration Method 6.2.4 Power Acceleration/Deceleration Method 6.2.5 Flight-Path Stability Method 6.3 Instrumentation 6.4 Summary References chapter 7 Longitudinal Manuverability Tests 7.1 Foundations 7.1.1 Steady, Wings-Level Pull-up 7.1.1.1 Elevator Angle per G 7.1.1.2 Stick-Fixed Maneuver Point 7.1.1.3 Stick Force per G 7.1.1.4 Stick-Free Maneuver Point 7.1.2 Turns 7.2 Longitudinal Maneuverability Test Methods 7.2.1 Symmetrical Pull-up Method 7.2.2 Steady Turn 7.2.2.1 Stabilized Load Factor 7.2.2.2 Slowly Varying Load Factor 7.2.3 Windup Turn 7.2.4 Estimation of Control and Hinge Moment Derivatives 7.3 Instrumentation 7.4 Summary169 References chapter 8 Static Lateral-Directional Stability Tests 8.1 Foundations 8.1.1 Directional Stability and Control 8.1.1.1 Weathercock Stability 8.1.1.2 Directional Control 8.1.1.3 Effect of a Freely Floating Rudder 8.1.1.4 Yawing Moment Due to Lateral Control 8.1.2 Lateral Stability and Control 8.1.2.1 Dihedral Effect 8.1.2.2 Lateral Control Power 8.1.2.3 Rolling Moment Due to Directional Control 8.1.3 Lateral-Directional Matrix Equations 8.2 Steady State Flight Test Methods 8.2.1 Test Methods to Determine Dominant Stability Derivatives 8.2.1.1 Steady, Straight Sideslips 8.2.1.2 Slowly Varying Sideslips 8.2.1.3 Steady Turns with Rudder Fixed 8.2.1.4 Steady Turns with Ailerons Fixed 8.2.1.5 Use of Steady Sideslip Data 8.2.2 Test Methods to Determine Control Effectiveness 8.2.2.1 Steady, Straight Sideslips at Different C.G. Locations 8.2.2.2 Yawing Moment Produced by a Wing Parachute 8.2.2.3 Measurements with Weights at Known Spanwise Locations 8.2.3 Estimation of Stability Derivatives from Steady Lateral- Directional Tests 8.3 Instrumentation 8.4 Summary References chapter 9 Dynamic Stability Tests 9.1 Foundations 9.1.1 Definition of Terms and Assumptions 9.1.2 Equations of Motion 9.1.2.1 Longitudinal Modes of Motion 9.1.2.2 Lateral-Directional Modes of Motion 9.1.3 Handling Qualities 9.1.3.1 Closed Loop Response versus Open Loop Response 9.1.3.2 Pilot Rating Scales 9.1.4 Longitudinal Dynamics 9.1.4.1 Dimensional Form of the Equations 9.1.4.2 Short Period Approximation 9.1.4.3 Phugoid Approximation 9.1.4.4 Sensitivity to Longitudinal Stability Derivatives 9.1.4.5 Summary of Linear Longitudinal Dynamics 9.1.5 Lateral-Directional Dynamics 9.1.5.1 Dimensional Form of the Equations 9.1.5.2 Roll Mode 9.1.5.3 Roll Mode Approximation 9.1.5.4 Spiral Mode 9.1.5.5 Spiral Mode Approximation 9.1.5.6 Dutch Roll Mode 9.1.5.7 Dutch Roll Approximation 9.1.5.8 Sensitivity to Lateral-Directional Stability Derivatives 9.1.5.9 Summary of Linear Lateral-Directional Dynamics 9.2 Dynamic Flight Test Methods 9.2.1 Types of Control Inputs 9.2.1.1 Step Input 9.2.1.2 Singlet 9.2.1.3 Doublet 9.2.2 Phugoid Test Methods 9.2.3 Short Period Test Methods 9.2.4 Dutch Roll Test Methods 9.2.5 Spiral Mode Test Methods 9.2.6 Roll Mode Test Methods 9.2.7 Basic Data Reduction Methods 9.2.7.1 Transient Peak Ratio Method 9.2.7.2 Time-Ratio Method 9.2.7.3 Maximum Slope Method 9.2.7.4 Separated-Real-Roots Method 9.2.8 Calculation of Lateral-Directional Parameters from Response Data 9.3 Instrumentation 9.3.1 Basic Interrelationships 9.3.1.1 Static Characteristics 9.3.1.2 Dynamic Characteristics 9.3.1.2 System Characteristics 9.3.2 Transducer Fundamentals 9.4 Summary References Index