Engineering Commons^™

Effects Of Normobaric Hypoxia On Oculomotor Dynamics Of Aviator Students During A Simulated Flight Task, Carl Wesley Rider, Abby Mccarty, Anna Blackley, Austin Deshner, Josh Engberg, Kaela Ehrlich, Theodore Hu, Maja Jankovic, Moroni De Moors, Jared Hornsby, Mitchell Morrison, Brian Walsh

Masters Theses

Hypoxia occurs when the body's tissues are unable to obtain adequate oxygen supply and is the primary environmental factor present when pilots are exposed to increasing altitude levels. Hypoxia leads to impaired vision, cognition, and motor control function, which can negatively affect performance and become deadly if a pilot becomes incapacitated. Thus, objective identification of early-onset hypoxia is critical to increase the time of useful consciousness and prevent physiological episodes. Of the few studies utilizing eye-tracking, there is disagreement and mixed results concerning saccadic eye metrics as a means to measure and detect hypoxia. Therefore, the purpose of this study …

Angle Of Attack Determination Using Inertial Navigation System Data From Flight Tests, Jack Kevin Ly

Masters Theses

Engineers and pilots rely on mechanical flow angle vanes on air data probes to determine the angle of attack of the aircraft in flight. These probes, however, are costly, come with inherent measurement errors, affect the flight characteristics of the aircraft, and are potentially dangerous in envelope expansion flights. Advances in the accuracy, usability, and affordability of inertial navigation systems allow for angle of attack to be determined accurately without direct measurement of the airflow around the aircraft. Utilizing an algorithm developed from aircraft equations of motion, a post-flight data review is completed as the first step in proving the …

Strategies For Reducing Supplier Risk: Inputs Into The Supply Chain, Christopher A. Greene

Masters Theses

There are many aspects to consider when managing an entire supply chain from procurement to fulfillment. Complex assemblies require hundreds of components, sourced from all corners of the globe, to come together in a synchronized fashion. Given the magnitude of the supply chain, high quality standards, and significantly increased outsourcing, there is a strong need to monitor supplier risk and quickly identify and mitigate potential problems. Moreover, the continuous pressure to reduce resources and pressure to cut costs, further increases the need for the development of procedures and tools that can quickly and efficiently address these potential supply chain risks. …

Flight Testing The Piper Pa-32 Saratoga And Pa-31 Navajo, Matthew John Dimaiolo

Masters Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to flight test the University of Tennessee Space Institute’s PA-32 Saratoga and PA-31 Navajo and provide baseline data for future students to reference. Flight tests consisted of both performance and stability and control parameters using a variety of flight test techniques. The tests selected represent the fundamentals that are taught in classes and short courses at the university, beginning with the air data system calibration, proceeding to cruise and climb performance, to stall performance and characteristics, and to static and dynamic stability.

After an introduction and description of the aircraft and flight test program, …

Ground And Flight Vibration Environment At Fuselage Station 505 In The C-2a Airplane, Christopher David Dotson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this test was to collect ground and flight vibration data at Fuselage Station (FS) 505 in the C-2A airplane. Collection of this data was necessary to determine operational and structural compatibility of certain navigation equipment with this vibratory environment. Vibration data were collected using triaxial accelerometers mounted to the FS 505 overhead equipment shelf and to an H-764 Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (EGI) mounted on the shelf. A total of 0.8 hr of ground testing and 3.6 hr of flight testing was conducted at Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Patuxent River, Maryland. Testing included …

A Human Factors Comparison Of Airborne Mine Countermeasures Controls And Displays As Installed On The Cns/Atm Mh-53e Helicopter And The Legacy Mh-53e Helicopter, Jeffrey S. Farlin

Masters Theses

The United States Navy has begun an initiative to upgrade the existing MH-53E aircraft from an analogue gauge cockpit to a digital glass cockpit. In order to assess the capability of the digital cockpit to perform the Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) mission as effectively as the analogue cockpit a human factors engineering analysis was conducted comparing the pros and cons for each cockpit. The primary focus of the paper was on the physical ergonomic characteristics of the AMCM cockpit. A limited analysis was also conducted evaluating some of the physical and mental workloads required for executing an AMCM mission. To …

A Case For An Aerial Refueling Capability For The United States Marine Corps Uh-1y Helicopter, Scott Suckow

Masters Theses

The goal of this thesis is to generate interest discussion, examination and ultimately installation of in-flight refueling capability on the UH-1Y, to enhance the utility of the UH-1Y in support of Marine Corps strategic and operational concepts. Material presented herein was acquired from numerous reference documents and publications to include aircraft flight manuals; tactics, techniques and procedures manuals; program office documents; contractor literature; and the author’s experiences as a Fleet Marine Force UH-1N pilot. Air-to-Air Refueling (AAR) systems are presented using currently fielded equipment in both tested and untested configurations, incorporating empirical data, tactics and past experiences. The resultant conclusions …

Wind-Tunnel Investigation Of Wind Deflectors For The Mh-6m Mission Enhanced Little Bird Helicopter, Richard Lee Lewis

Masters Theses

The U.S. Army’s 160^th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) employs the MH-6M Mission-Enhanced Little Bird helicopter with troops seated on external platforms on both sides of its fuselage. During cruise flight, these troops are subjected to such high wind speeds that the ability to perform their subsequent mission is degraded. The external personnel also add parasite drag to the helicopter, which decreases its performance, and increase the noise levels and turbulence in the cockpit, which interferes with its crew.

Prior research indicated that the wind could possibly be diverted away from the external personnel, to some degree, by attaching …

Flight Testing Quadeye The First Night Vision Helmet Mounted Cueing System For Fixed Wing Jet Aircraft, Timothy Ghannon Burton

Masters Theses

In 2002 the United States Navy introduced helmet mounted cueing systems (HMCS) into tactical jet operations. As aircrews have become more reliant on their HMCS the requirement for a night vision capable cueing system has risen to the forefront of HMCS technology. One proposed solution to this requirement was Quadeye. Quadeye is a wide-angle (100deg field of view) four cathode-ray tube system with injected Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing video. The Navy flew 8 evaluation sorties from March to August 2005, in the F-18 A-F fighter aircraft. The goal of this limited scope effort was to answer four questions:

1. Does the …

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Human Factors Evaluation Of Portable Electronic Devices In Tactical Aircraft, Martin Bernard Fuerst

Masters Theses

As the service life of aging military aircraft are extended and these aircraft are tasked with new missions they were never designed to support, military aircraft are constantly being upgraded with new systems and avionics. Additionally, many legacy aircraft have poor cockpit layouts or incorporate older displays that are not compatible with or require extensive modification to support these new technologies. Unfortunately, many acquisition programs do not have the luxury of an unlimited budget and schedule to complete the required upgrades. One alternative is to incorporate a portable electronic device or PED into the cockpit. These devices can provide moving …

An Analysis Of Target Location Error Generated By The Litening Pod As Integrated On The Av-8b Harrier Ii, Shaun C. Spang

Masters Theses

The modern battlefield continues to rapidly change requiring a quick, reactive, and precise strike capability by air forces. The Litening Pod (Tpod), as integrated on the AV-8B Harrier, can now be easily used by the pilot as a target coordinate generation source for global positioning system (GPS) guided weapons. This thesis has attempted to mathematically determine the target coordinate generation accuracy of the Tpod. The total mathematical target location error (TLE) was then compared to actual flight test data.

The analytical approach to calculating the accuracy of Tpod generated target coordinates has shown to be too conservative. This is due …

Use Of The Gps Reciprocal Heading Method For Determining Pitot-Static Position Error In Helicopter Flight Testing, Rucie James Moore

Masters Theses

This thesis is an evaluation of using the Global Positioning System (GPS) reciprocal heading method to determine pitot-static position errors in helicopter flight testing. Determination of position error is a fundamental flight test task that must occur early in a test program, as all other results with regard to airspeed rely on the data. The test determines errors of the pitot-static system that cause inaccurate indication of airspeed to the pilot. The measured course, a currently approved method, provides a measure of the helicopter’s groundspeed by flying the helicopter over a known distance and converting elapsed time into the speed …

Systems Calibration, Testing, And Preflight Preparations Of A Reusable Launch Vehicle Subscale Model For A Parameter Determination Flight Program, James Michael Rigsby

Masters Theses

The European space community, having recognized the need for reliable and affordable space access, has identified two reusable vehicle concepts for future autonomous access to space. One of these concepts is the horizontally launched and landed “Hopper”. Various European agencies are participating in the development of the concept including the Technical University of Aachen, Germany.

The purpose of this work was to prepare and test the subscale vehicle for the flight test program conducted at the Technical University of Aachen (RWTH). The work was part of a larger project to create and demonstrate the technology required for reusable autonomous space …

The Eighty Desired Mean Point Of Impact Targeting Management Problem With Respect To Pilot Vehicle Interface In The B-2a Aircraft, Todd Murphy Copeland

Masters Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the pilot vehicle interface of the GBU-38, 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition integration with the B-2A weapon system operated by the United States Air Force with respect to controls and displays from a human factors perspective. This thesis highlights the basic problems associated with software intensive, glass cockpit displays in a modern combat aircraft using the GBU-38/B-2A integration as a case study and gives the conclusions and solutions our test team reached.

An abbreviated background of the basic workings and displays associated with weapons control and delivery is given at first with …

The Origin And Evolution Of The Naval Air Training And Operating Procedures Standardization Program, Kristin Olson Swift

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the origin and evolution of the Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) Program and to address challenges facing the present day NATOPS Program. The NATOPS Program, developed in the 1960s as an effort to improve the safety and readiness of Naval Aviation, has evolved into an effective safety program that provides operating procedures and technical data all Navy and Marine Corps aircraft.

Much of the data used in this study were found in the paper and digital records transferred to the Naval Air System Command NATOPS Office from the former …

A Photometric Analysis Of Weapon Separation Characteristics, Douglas Paul Yurovich

Masters Theses

This project attempted to implement a unique multi-camera photometric technology into the discipline of weapons separation testing from tactical jet aircraft.

This project was a U.S. Governmental, Department of Defense tasked affair, that utilized assets of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland.

The methodology employed consisted of a standard lens calibration procedure; an airspace calibration procedure, that defined the zone for the activity of motion, and targeting of the aircraft and specific store.

With filmed flight test data in hand, the data was digitized through a motion sensor and stored as computer files. …

The Socio-Economic Impact Of The Airport Upon The Community, Alfred F. Eaton Jr.

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to analyze the socio-economic impact that an airport has upon a community and to develop a method of determining that impact suitable for usage by an airport manager.

Data is presented which illustrates the magnitude and scope of the socio-economic impact of an airport. The various methods of analyzing this impact are discussed. Finally, a method of determining the impact, designed for airport managers, is presented.

Some of the main conclusions of the research are as follows: that it is very difficult to measure the total socio-economic impact of an airport upon the community, …

Reliability Of Aircraft Altitude Estimates By Ground Observers, Euegene W. Benson

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of Aviation Education In Senior High School Textbooks, Herbert E. Ellinger

Masters Theses

Chapter I

Introduction

Mankind has emerged from the Stone Age through the Ages of Iron, Steam, and Electricity to the present Air-Age. This latter age is characterized by man's utilization of air for travel, transportation, and communication.¹ It is common knowledge that the Air-Age has a number of social implications. More of our citizens are going abroad and more foreigners are visiting the United States than was possible, a few years ago, with slow moving surface transportation. Military planes now fly round-trips between continents without stopping. There are few places that are not within reach of air transportation. Hence, …