Algorithms Improving Flying Qualities of General Aviation Aircraft

Abstract

The dynamic growth of general aviation as a mean of transport over medium distances means that people having no extraordinary qualifications or extraordinary physical or mental abilities more often pilot such types of airplanes. This phenomenon creates the necessity of giving planes flying qualities that allow them to be safely piloted by ordinary people. One way of solving this problem is equipping airplanes with fly‐by‐wire control systems that modify their handling qualities. Then the computer included into such control systems modifies the actions taken by the pilot, making the airplane both easier and more comfortable to control. This paper presents sample software tools – control algorithms that allowing an airplane's handling qualities to be improved. They are prepared by the authors and tested on board an experimental plane. That plane was equipped with a prototypical fly‐by‐wire control system, which can modify a plane's responses to a pilot's actions.

The training rate of aircraft handling quality evaluation scale

“…In spite of the plane's handling characteristics were modified for both altitude and heading channel, let us focus only one element of foregoing maneuver – the altitude stabilization. During the test flight, the pilot, who is the SPS −1 system's operator controlled the airplane using different control modes (Rogalski and Dolega, 2006). Selected fragments of the real flights are shown in Figure 5: Mode I. Deflections of control surfaces were proportional to the position of the control device.…”

Proposal of the experimental simulation method for handling qualities evaluation

“…2, plus automatic trimmer (pitch moment equilibrium).Simplified control, forming filter is used – Level II (Figure 8):as No. 3, but nonlinear function was used (Figure 9, curve c); andforming filter described by Rogalski and Dołęga's (2006) formula was used: Equation 1 where, U MW = δ – required displacement of aerodynamics control surface, U P – stick displacement, k – weight factor of SI rate of movement. Properties of forming filter are graphically shown by 3D‐surface in Figure 9, surface d .Normal flight control system operation – Level I (Figure 10):indirect control “Rate command/attitude hold” type (for k FF =0); andas No.…”

“…forming filter described by Rogalski and Dołęga's (2006) formula was used: Equation 1 where, U MW = δ – required displacement of aerodynamics control surface, U P – stick displacement, k – weight factor of SI rate of movement. Properties of forming filter are graphically shown by 3D‐surface in Figure 9, surface d .…”

A concept of voice guided general aviation aircraft

“…On the other hand they are usually not professional pilots and often have not much aviation experience. They represent a different approach to aircraft control process [5] than professional pilots do. They also expect plane's features to be a little different than professionals do.…”