Criteria for Low-Speed Longitudinal Handling Qualities : Of Transport Aircraft with Closed-Loop Flight Control Systems

In-fl ight simulation experiments performed in 1967 with a variable-stabil ity aircraft during the author's stay at Princeton University, motivated the study of handl ing characteristics of future transport aircraft with closed-loop fl ight control systems. In 1972, the first experiment took place at the National Aerospace Laboratory NLR, using one of its research aircraft. In anticipation of expected developments in (digital) fl ight control technology, the research programme following the first experiments was aimed at the establ ishment of quantitative handl ing qual ities criteria. An appreciable part of that programme has been sponsored by the Netherlands Agency for Aerospace Programs (Nederlands Instituut voor VI iegtuigontwikkel ing en Ruimtevaart) and the Department of Civil Aviation of the Netherlands (Rijksluchtvaartdienst). In 1981, a thorough review of the extensive and valuable data gathered was started. The result, presented in this book, was also included in the author's thesis for a Ph.D. degree of the Delft University of Technology. To introduce the reader to the multi-discipl inary field of handl ing qual ities research, introductory chapters are presented on longitudinal aircraft dynamics, closed-loop fl ight control systems using non-mechanical signal transmission, human pilot dynamics, hand I ing qual ities assessment techniques, and the present status of handl ing qual ity criteria. In-fl ight simulation experiments performed in 1967 with a variable-stabil ity aircraft during the author's stay at Princeton University, motivated the study of handl ing characteristics of future transport aircraft with closed-loop fl ight control systems. In 1972, the first experiment took place at the National Aerospace Laboratory NLR, using one of its research aircraft. In anticipation of expected developments in (digital) fl ight control technology, the research programme following the first experiments was aimed at the establ ishment of quantitative handl ing qual ities criteria. An appreciable part of that programme has been sponsored by the Netherlands Agency for Aerospace Programs (Nederlands Instituut voor VI iegtuigontwikkel ing en Ruimtevaart) and the Department of Civil Aviation of the Netherlands (Rijksluchtvaartdienst). In 1981, a thorough review of the extensive and valuable data gathered was started. The result, presented in this book, was also included in the author's thesis for a Ph. D. degree of the Delft University of Technology. To introduce the reader to the multi-discipl inary field of handl ing qual ities research, introductory chapters are presented on longitudinal aircraft dynamics, closed-loop fl ight control systems using non-mechanical signal transmission, human pilot dynamics, hand I ing qual ities assessment techniques, and the present status of handl ing qual ity criteria Front Matter....Pages I-IX Background and Outline of the Book....Pages 1-4 Front Matter....Pages 5-5 Longitudinal Dynamics....Pages 7-14 Primary Closed-Loop Flight Control Systems....Pages 15-25 Mathematical Models of the Control Behaviour of the Human Pilot....Pages 27-35 Techniques for Assessment of Handling Qualities....Pages 37-46 Status of Handling Quality Criteria....Pages 47-63 Front Matter....Pages 65-65 Design of the Experiments....Pages 67-87 Results of Experiments....Pages 89-99 Criteria Based on the Results of the Experiments....Pages 101-128 Conclusions....Pages 129-130 Back Matter....Pages 131-152