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At least 217 records · Page 12

General aviation - Transportation in transition

An overview is presented of the current status of general aviation and some of the problems that it faces. Of some 220,000 active general aviation aircraft in the U.S., 195,000 are piston engine powered single- or twin-engine aircraft, that conflict with the large high-speed commercial jet transports throughout the operating spectrum. The access to airport conflict shows that the limiting factor is not airspace or airport size, but rather airway structures and airport systems that have failed to keep pace with demand. Design and development of an aircraft that can routinely fly a 150 mph approach, achieve rapid but controlled deceleration to touchdown speed, and turn off at an early exit is required. GPS satellites could provide precision approach capability to all airports and runways for commercial and general aviation aircraft.

Stickle, Joseph W.↗

The Effect of Yaw Coupling in Turning Maneuvers of Large Transport Aircraft

A study has been made, using a piloted moving simulator, of the effects of the yaw-coupling parameters N(sub p) and N(sub delta(sub a) on the lateral-directional handling qualities of a large transport airplane at landing-approach airspeed. It is shown that the desirable combinations of these parameters tend to be more proverse when compared with values typical of current aircraft. Results of flight tests in a large variable-stability jet transport showed trends which were similar to those of the simulator data. Areas of minor disagreement, which were traced to differences in airplane geometry, indicate that pilot consciousness of side acceleration forces can be an important factor in handling qualities of future long-nosed transport aircraft.

McNeill, Walter E.↗

Simulator evaluation of a flight-path-angle control system for a transport airplane with direct lift control

A piloted simulator was used to evaluate the flight path angle control capabilities of a system that employs spoiler direct lift control. The system was designated the velocity vector control system and was compared with a baseline flight path angle control system which used elevator for control. The simulated airplane was a medium jet transport. Research pilots flew a manual instrument landing system glide slope tracking task and a variable flight path angle task in the landing configuration to obtain comparative performance data.

Kelley, W. W.↗

What will aircraft capabilities and needs really be in 2005?

Developments related to the U.S. aviation industry during the first 25 years of NASA's existence are briefly examined and the current status of the industry is evaluated. It is found that advances in the past were accomplished generally as a large number of relatively small improvements in the technologies rather than as a single revolutionary change. However, it is felt, that emerging technology in the future has the potential for providing just such a revolutionary jump in the efficiency and productivity of air transportation. New technologies are projected to result in aircraft which can generate in excess of 200 seat-miles per gallon of fuel. A new generation of supersonic transports can show large gains in range and payload capability with a tripling of productivity over subsonic aircraft. Aircraft with the considered advanced capabilities, if available by the year 2005, will provide the kind of revolution which resulted from the introduction of the first jet transport.

Beggs, J. M.↗

A parametric analysis of transport aircraft system weights and costs

In determining unit and operating costs for advanced aircraft, it has been found that by having first-order weight and performance approximations for the aircraft systems and structural components, a step increase in cost prediction accuracy results. This paper presents first-order approximation equations for these systems and components. These equations were developed from data for most current jet transports, and they have been ordered to use a minimum number of performance parameters such as aircraft style, number of passengers, empty and gross weight, cargo load, and operating range. A NASA Ames Research Center aircraft cost program has been used to compare calculated and actual weights for the same aircraft. Good aircraft cost correlation is shown to exist between calculated first-order and actual aircraft weight data.

Anderson, J. L.↗

Aeroservoelastic Control Law Development for the Integrated Adaptive Wing Technology Maturation Wind-Tunnel Test

The NASA Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT) Project seeks to “explore and develop technologies and concepts for improved energy efficiency and environmental compatibility for fixed wing subsonic transports” [1]. The IAWTM project is a subproject within AATT and is a joint Boeing/NASA effort to, in part, demonstrate the active control systems necessary to employ high-aspect ratio wings for improved aerodynamic efficiency. The aircraft configuration under study for the IAWTM project is a generic jet transport based on the NASA Common Research Model (CRM) whose wing aspect ratio has been increased to 13.5 (as opposed to nominal CRM aspect ratio of 9) and whose development is given in Ref. [2]. A semi-span model of the high-aspect-ratio CRM with 10 trailing edge control surfaces is currently being fabricated and will be delivered to the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT). There, several tests will be conducted to demonstrate maneuver load alleviation (MLA), gust load alleviation (GLA), active flutter suppression (AFS), and drag reduction, all at transonic conditions. A layout of the wind tunnel model is shown in Fig. 1. The wind-tunnel model is a spar/pod wing design with a relatively rigid fuselage attached to a mounting structure (seen in Fig. 1), which in turn is attached to a load balance behind the tunnel wall. Shims exist that can be attached to force the load to go through the fuselage rather than through the balance so as not to damage the balance in the event of flutter. The spar/pod design is similar to that used in the Boeing truss-braced wing aeroelastic model tested in the TDT in 2013 [3]. There is a central spar running the span of the wing to which the pods are attached that form the aerodynamic shape of the wing. The pods are constructed of ribs for attachment to the spar and skins to create the outer mold line. There are ten active control surfaces that will be used for the test objectives discussed above. Three of these (two outboard ailerons and one inboard aileron) are high-speed electrohydraulic actuators, and the remaining seven are low-speed mini-plane flaps, which have slower servo motors that will be used primarily for drag and maneuver load reductions. Control laws must be developed for each test (MLA, GLA, AFS, and drag reduction) and must be able to work in tandem when two or more control strategies are being tested simultaneously (e.g., when control laws to mitigate maneuver loads and gust loads operate simultaneously). The development of these control laws requires accurate mathematical representations of the aerodynamics, structural dynamics, and control surface dynamics of the system. Taken together, this mathematical representation—which is often in state-space form— is the ASE model. Three low-order ASE models of differing fidelities were developed for the IAWTM test and will be presented here. The differences in fidelity appeared in the aerodynamic modeling—one model assumed purely linear aerodynamics, while the other two models used different techniques to linearize the aerodynamics about a nonlinear mean. Furthermore, simple observer-based full-state feedback controllers for each test (MLA, GLA, AFS, and drag reduction) were designed from these low-order ASE models and implemented in a higher-order, nonlinear computational ASE simulation to assess the effectiveness of each controller. Observers were designed from each of the three lower-order ASE models, and each (linear) observer was then used as an estimate of the nonlinear dynamics of the system. Using the estimated states and the full-state feedback controller, control surface commands were fed back to the higher-order, nonlinear ASE system. The insight gained during this development will be applied to control law development for the physical IAWTM wind-tunnel test.

Josiah M Waite↗

QCSEE UTW engine powered-lift acoustic performance

Powered-lift acoustic test of the Quiet Clean Short Haul Experimental Engine (QCSEE) under the wing (UTW) engine are reported. Propulsion systems for two powered-lift concepts were designed, fabricated, and tested. In addition to low noise features, the designs included composite structures, gear-driven fans, digital control, and a variable pitch fan (UTW). The UTW engine was tested in a static ground test facility with wing and flap segments to simulate installation on a short haul transport aircraft of the future. Powered-lift acoustic performance of the UTW engine is compared with that of the previously tested and reported QCSEE over-the-wing (OTW) engine. Both engines were slightly above the noise goal but were significantly below current FAA and modern wide-body jet transport levels. The UTW system in the powered-lift mode was penalized by reflected engine noise from the wing and flap system, while the OTW system was benefitted by a wing noise shielding effect.

Loeffler, I. J.↗

Crew factors in flight operations. Part 3: The operational significance of exposure to short-haul air transport operations

Excessive flightcrew fatigue has potentially serious safety consequences. Laboratory studies have implicated fatigue as a causal factor associated with varying levels of performance deterioration depending on the amount of fatigue and the type of measure utilized in assessing performance. These studies have been of limited utility because of the difficulty of relating laboratory task performance to the demands associated with the operation of a complex aircraft. The performance of 20 volunteer twin-jet transport crews is examined in a full-mission simulator scenario that included most aspects of an actual line operation. The scenario included both routine flight operations and an unexpected mechanical abnormality which resulted in a high level of crew workload. Half of the crews flew the simulation within two to three hours after completing a three-day, high-density, short-haul duty cycle (Post-Duty condition). The other half flew the scenario after a minimum of three days off duty (Pre-Duty) condition). The results revealed that, not surprisingly, Post-Duty crews were significantly more fatigued than Pre-Duty crews. However, a somewhat counter-intuitive pattern of results emerged on the crew performancemeasures. In general, the performance of Post-Duty crews was significantly better than that of Pre-Duty crews, as rated by an expert observer on a number of dimensions relevant to flight safety. Analyses of the flightcrew communication patterns revealed that Post-Duty crews communicated significantly more overall, suggesting, as has previous research, that communication is a good predictor of overall crew performance.

Foushee, H. C.↗

Synthesized voice approach callouts for air transport operations

A flight simulation experiment was performed to determine the effectiveness of synthesized voice approach callouts for air transport operations. Flight deck data was first collected on scheduled air carrier operations to describe existing pilot-not-flying callout procedures in the flight context and to document the types and amounts of other auditory cockpit information during different types of air carrier operations. A flight simulation scenario for a wide-body jet transport airline training simulator was developed in collaboration with a major U.S. air carrier and flown by three-man crews of qualified line pilots as part of their normally scheduled recurrent training. Each crew flew half their approaches using the experimental synthesized voice approach callout system (SYNCALL) and the other half using the company pilot-not-flying approach callout procedures (PNF). Airspeed and sink rate performance was better with the SYNCALL system than with the PNF system for non-precision approaches. For the one-engine approach, for which SYNCALL made inappropriate deviation callouts, airspeed performance was worse with SYNCALL than with PNF. Reliability of normal altitude approach callouts was comparable for PNF on the line and in the simulator and for SYNCALL in the simulator.

Simpson, C. A.↗

Consideration of Fuel Requirements for Supersonic Transport Operation

An analysis of the interaction of operational environment and aircraft characteristics of the supersonic transport (SST) in the areas of design-range and reserve-fuel requirements has been made. Design-range requirements are considered in relation to the effects of wind, temperature, flight-level assignment, and payload variation. An approach toward combining en route and holding reserve requirements while maintaining protection equivalent to that provided subsonic jet transport operations by the present civil air regulation en route plus holding reserves is given. This approach results in a savings in reserve fuel over that required by separate requirements.

Stickle, Joseph W.↗

Wind tunnel investigation of a large-scale upper surface blown-flap model having four engines

Investigations were conducted in the Ames 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel to determine the aerodynamic characteristics of a large-scale subsonic jet transport model with an upper surface blown flap system. The model had a 25 deg swept wing of aspect ratio 7.28 and four turbofan engines. The lift of the flap system was augmented by turning the turbofan exhaust over the Coanda surface. Results were obtained for several flap deflections with several wing leading-edge configurations at jet momentum coefficients from 0 to 4.0. Three-component longitudinal data are presented with four engines operating. In addition, longitudinal and lateral data are presented with an engine out. The maximum lift and stall angle of the four engine model were lower than those obtained with a two engine model that was previously investigated. The addition of the outboard nacelles had an adverse effect on these values. Efforts to improve these values were successful. A maximum lift of 8.8 at an angle-of-attack of 27 deg was obtained with a jet thrust coefficient of 2 for the landing flap configuration.

Aoyagi, K.↗

An investigation of air transportation technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 1993-1994

There are two completed projects and two continuing research activities under the sponsorship of the FAA/NASA Joint University Program as the 1993-94 period ends. There were a number of publications during the year which are referenced in this report. A brief summary of the continuing research projects is provided. The completed projects were (1) Analysis of Aircraft Surface Motion at Boston Logan International Airport and (2) A State of the Art Review and Critical Analysis of World Jet Transport Safety and Aviation Fire Safety. The active research projects are (1) ASLOTS - An Interactive Adaptive System for Automated Approach Spacing of Aircraft and (2) Alerting in Automated and Datalink Capable Cockpits.

Simpson, Robert W.↗

Prediction of leading-edge transition and relaminarization phenomena on a subsonic multi-element high-lift system

Boundary-layer transition and relaminarization may have a critical effect on the flow development about multi-element high-lift systems of subsonic transport jets with swept wings. The purpose of the research is to study these transition phenomena in the leading-edge region of the various elements of a high-lift system. The flow phenomena studied include transition to the attachment-line flow, relaminarization, and crossflow instability, and transition. The calculations are based on pressure distributions measured in flight on the NASA Transport Systems Research Vehicle (Boeing 737-100) at a wing station where the flow approximated infinite swept wing conditions. The results indicate that significant regions of laminar flow can exist on all flap elements in flight. In future flight experiments (planned for January-February, 1994) the extent of these regions, the transition mechanisms and the effect of laminar flow on the high-lift characteristics of the multi-element system will be further explored.

Vandam, C. P.↗

Variation of pitching moment with engine thrust for a twin-engine commercial jet aircraft

Flight tests were made to determine the effect of engine net thrust on airplane pitching moment for a twin-engine commercial jet transport in the approach, climbout and descent, and cruise configurations. The results indicate that for all the conditions analyzed, the pitching moment due to thrust is somewhat higher than that estimated from the product of net thrust and its moment arm (perpendicular distance from thrust axis to the airplane center of gravity). The differences are attributed to additional moments produced by nacelle normal force, jet-induced downwash, and interaction between wing flow and engine nacelle flow.

Shanks, R. E.↗

Stochastic performance robustness of aircraft control systems

Stochastic robustness, a simple technique used to estimate the robustness of linear, time-invariant systems, is applied to a twin-jet transport aircraft control system. Concepts behind stochastic stability robustness are extended to stochastic performance robustness. Stochastic performance robustness measures based on classical design specifications and measures specific to aircraft handling qualities are introduced. Confidence intervals for both individual stochastic robustness measures and for comparing two measures are presented. The application of stochastic performance robustness, the use of confidence intervals, and tradeoffs between performance objectives are demonstrated by means of the twin-jet aircraft example.

Stengel, Robert F.↗

Structural dynamics research in a full-scale transport aircraft crash test

A remotely piloted air-to-ground crash test of a full-scale transport aircraft was conducted for the first time for two purposes: (1) to demonstrate performance of an antimisting fuel additive in suppressing fire in a crash environment, and (2) to obtain structural dynamics data under crash conditions for comparison with analytical predictions. The test, called the Controlled Impact Demonstration (CID), was sponsored by FAA and NASA with cooperation of industry, the Department of Defense, and the British and French governments. The test aircraft was a Boeing 720 jet transport. The aircraft impacted a dry lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the structural aspects of the CID. The fuselage section tests and the CID itself are described. Structural response data from these tests are presented and discussed. Nonlinear analytical modeling efforts are described, and comparisons between analytical results and experimental results are presented.

Mccomb, H. G., Jr.↗

Study of control system effectiveness in alleviating vortex wake upsets.

The problem of an airplane being upset by encountering the vortex wake of a large transport on takeoff or landing is currently receiving considerable attention. This paper describes the technique and results of a study to assess the effectiveness of automatic control systems in alleviating vortex wake upsets. A six-degree-of-freedom nonlinear digital simulation was used for this purpose. The analysis included establishing the disturbance input due to penetrating a vortex wake from an arbitrary position and angle. Simulations were computed for both a general aviation airplane and a commercial jet transport. Dynamic responses were obtained for the penetrating aircraft with no augmentation and with various command augmentation systems. The results of this preliminary study indicate that it is feasible to use an automatic control system to alleviate vortex encounter upsets.

Johnson, W. A.↗