Advances In Flight Testing

The aim of this book is to briefly present modern optical measurement techniques to measure the thermal and flow parameters in-flight. Furthermore, advanced optical methods to measure the deformation of the surface of wings and rotor blades of aircraft will be presented. Readers will gain knowledge as a result of research conducted in the framework of the two European projects AIM and AIM2 and verified during the flight test on various types of aircraft. These have included the Evektor VUT100, Airbus A380, Dornier 228, Fairchild Metro II, Janus, PW-6, Piaggio P180 and Scottish Aviation Bulldog.

This book provides a single comprehensive resource that reviews many of the current aircraft flight control programmes from the perspective of experienced practitioners directly involved in the projects. Each chapter discusses a specific aircraft flight programme covering the control system design considerations, control law architecture, simulation and analysis, flight test optimization and handling qualities evaluations. The programmes described have widely exploited modern interdisciplinary tools and techniques and the discussions include extensive flight test results. Many important `lessons learned' are included from the experience gained when design methods and requirements were tested and optimized in actual flight demonstration.

The book presents a synopsis of the main results achieved during the 3 year EU-project "Advanced Inflight Measurement Techniques (AIM)" which applied advanced image based measurement techniques to industrial flight testing. The book is intended to be not only an overview on the AIM activities but also a guide on the application of advanced optical measurement techniques for future flight testing. Furthermore it is a useful guide for engineers in the field of experimental methods and flight testing who face the challenge of a future requirement for the development of highly accurate non-intrusive in-flight measurement techniques.

A manual for pilots preparing for the commercial knowledge and flight tests, and those transitioning to advanced models and types of planes, that explains the basics of airplane performance.