Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

White, W. F.

Publications and source records attributed to White, W. F..

18 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1989

B-737 flight test of curved-path and steep-angle approaches using MLS guidance

A series of flight tests were conducted to collect data for jet transport aircraft flying curved-path and steep-angle approaches using Microwave Landing System (MLS) guidance. During the test, 432 approaches comprising seven different curved-paths and four glidepath angles varying from 3 to 4 degrees were flown in NASA Langley's Boeing 737 aircraft (Transport Systems Research Vehicle) using an MLS ground station at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility. Subject pilots from Piedmont Airlines flew the approaches using conventional cockpit instrumentation (flight director and Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI). The data collected will be used by FAA procedures specialists to develop standards and criteria for designing MLS terminal approach procedures (TERPS). The use of flight simulation techniques greatly aided the preliminary stages of approach development work and saved a significant amount of costly flight time. This report is intended to complement a data report to be issued by the FAA Office of Aviation Standards which will contain all detailed data analysis and statistics.

Branstetter, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Operational considerations in utilization of microwave landing system approach and landing guidance

The characteristics and performance of MLS equipment utilized by the TCV B-737. Several classes of MLS service and approach procedures are discussed in light of TCV experience. Since the early uses of MLS involves procedures identical to ILS, most of the discussion is concerned with exploitation of MLS capabilities not possessed by ILS. Examples are given of how this could be done by using MLS to enhance the safety and utility of procedures presently in use for noise abatement. Some areas which require definition of new procedures and conventions are indicated.

White, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Operational considerations in utilization of microwave landing system approach and landing guidance

The characteristics of microwave landing system (MLS) equipment are reviewed and the flight performance of the terminal configured vehicle B-737 airplane during nearly five years of flight experience with MLS is summarized. Most of these flights involved curved, descending flight paths with automatic landings and final approaches as short as 0.44 n. mi. Possible uses to solve noise abatement problems with MLS equipment of varying degrees of complexity are discussed. It is concluded that altitude derived from MLS is superior to other sources near the airport traffic pattern.

White, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Flight performance of the TCV B-737 airplane at Montreal/Dorval International Airport, Montreal, Canada, using TRSB/MLS guidance

The NASA terminal configured vehicle B-737 was flown in support of the world wide FAA demonstration of the time reference scanning beam microwave landing system. A summary of the flight performance of the TCV airplane during demonstration automatic approaches and landings while utilizing TRSB/MLS guidance is presented. The TRSB/MLS provided the terminal area guidance necessary for automatically flying curved, noise abatement type approaches and landings with short finals.

White, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Flight performance of the TCV B-737 airplane at Jorge Newberry Airport, Buenos Aires, Argentina using TRSB/MLS guidance

The flight performance of the Terminal Configured Vehicle airplane is summarized. Demonstration automatic approaches and landings utilizing time reference scanning beam microwave landing system (TRSB/MLS) guidance are presented. The TRSB/MLS was shown to provide the terminal area guidance necessary for flying curved automatic approaches with final legs as short as 2 km.

White, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Flight performance of the TCV B-737 airplane at Kennedy Airport using TRSB/MLS guidance

The terminal configured vehicle (TCV) B 737 was flown in demonstration of the time reference scanning beam/microwave landing system (TRSB/MLS). The flight performance of the TCV airplane during the demonstration automatic approaches and landings while utilizing TRSB/MLS guidance is reported. The TRSB/MLS is shown to provide the terminal area guidance necessary for flying curved automatic approaches with short finals.

White, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Flight demonstrations of curved, descending approaches and automatic landings using time referenced scanning beam guidance

The Terminal Configured Vehicle (TCV) program operates a Boeing 737 modified to include a second cockpit and a large amount of experimental navigation, guidance and control equipment for research on advanced avionics systems. Demonstration flights to include curved approaches and automatic landings were tracked by a phototheodolite system. For 50 approaches during the demonstration flights, the following results were obtained: the navigation system, using TRSB guidance, delivered the aircraft onto the 3 nautical mile final approach leg with an average overshoot of 25 feet past centerline, subjet to a 2-sigma dispersion of 90 feet. Lateral tracking data showed a mean error of 4.6 feet left of centerline at the category 1 decision height (200 feet) and 2.7 feet left of centerline at the category 2 decision height (100 feet). These values were subject to a sigma dispersion of about 10 feet. Finally, the glidepath tracking errors were 2.5 feet and 3.0 feet high at the category 1 and 2 decision heights, respectively, with a 2 sigma value of 6 feet.

White, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Airborne antenna coverage requirements for the TCV B-737 aircraft

The airborne antenna line of sight look angle requirement for operation with a Microwave Landing System (MLS) was studied. The required azimuth and elevation line of sight look angles from an antenna located on an aircraft to three ground based antenna sites at the Wallops Flight Center (FPS-16 radar, MLS aximuth, and MLS elevation) as the aircraft follows specific approach paths selected as representative of MLS operations at the Denver, Colorado, terminal area are presented. These required azimuth and elevation look angles may be interpreted as basic design requirements for antenna of the TCV B-737 airplane for MLS operations along these selected approach paths.

Southall, W. A., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Microwave spectra of some chlorine and fluorine compounds

A computer-controlled microwave spectrometer was used to catalog reference spectra for chemical analysis. Tables of absorption frequencies, peak absorption intensities, and integrated intensities are shown for 21 organic compounds which contain chlorine, fluorine, or both.

White, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Microwave spectra of some volatile organic compounds

A computer-controlled microwave (MRR) spectrometer was used to catalog reference spectra for chemical analysis. Tables of absorption frequency, peak absorption intensity, and integrated intensity are included for 26 volatile organic compounds, all but one of which contain oxygen.

White, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Software and modifications for automated microwave spectral measurements on the Hewlett Packard 8460 spectrometer

A Hewlett-Packard 8460A spectrometer was adapted for automatic spectral searches and measurements under computer control. Software consists of a BASIC language control program and assembly language equipment drivers. Complete software listings are given including cross reference tables. Each equipment driver program is discussed, and wiring diagrams are given for the additions required for computer control.

White, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Microwave spectra of some sulfur and nitrogen compounds

A computer-controlled microwave spectrometer was used to catalog reference spectra for chemical analysis. The apparatus, software, and experimental procedures are described. Tables of absorption frequencies, peak absorption coefficients, and integrated intensities are included for 13 sulfur compounds, 14 nitrogen compounds, and 1 compound containing both sulfur and nitrogen. The frequency range covered was 26,500 to 40,000 MHz for most compounds and 18,000 to 40,000 MHz for some.

White, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1972

A cavity type absorption cell for double resonance microwave spectroscopy.

Description of an experimental dual resonant cavity absorption cell for observing microwave spectroscopic double-resonance effects. The device is composed of two Fabry-Perot interferometers excited by independent microwave sources and mounted at right angles in a suitable vacuum enclosure. The pumping transition is modulated by one source and the modulation induced on the rf absorption in the orthogonal cavity is detected.

Lee, M. C.↗