Aviation Commons^™

The Effects Of Elevator Rate Limiting And Stick Dynamics On Longitudinal Pilot-Induced Oscillations, Patrick J. Peters

Theses and Dissertations

This report presents the results of an investigation into the effects of elevator rate limiting and stick dynamics on longitudinal pilot-induced oscillations (PIO). A simulation study was conducted to prepare for the flight test, but also to gain insight into the effects of rate limiting and stick dynamics. Due to the non-numerical nature of the simulation results, a flexible three-phase flight test plan was developed, first varying the rate limits, then varying the stick dynamics, and finally flying a matrix determined in the first two phases. There were three major conclusions. First, the offset landing task flown was insufficient to …

Detection Of Fatigue Crack Growth In A Simulated Aircraft Fuselage, Michael Lee Marsden

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Acoustic emission (AE) nondestructive testing can detect fatigue cracks as they occur in complex structures. One use for AE has been in-flight detection of fatigue cracks in aircraft. The KC-135 aircraft were successfully monitored as early as 1979. The main problem with this and subsequent applications was an unfavorable signal to noise ratio, the key being to separate the small amplitude crack signals from the large amplitude ambient noise. This was accomplished here through the use of a Kohonen self-organizing map (SOM) neural network.

In order to simulate a fuselage undergoing fatigue, a pressure vessel was constructed from a 0.040 …

A Methodology For The Prediction Of The Empennage In-Flight Loads Of A General Aviation Aircraft Using Backpropagation Neural Networks, Maciej Marciniak

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Backpropagation neural networks have been used to predict strain resulting from the maneuver in-flight loads in the empennage structure of a Cessna 172P. The purpose of this research was to develop a methodology for the prediction of strain in the tail section of a general aviation aircraft and to determine the minimum set of sensors necessary to adequately train the neural networks. Linear accelerometer, angular accelerometer, rate gyro, and strain gage signals were collected in flight using DAQBook portable data acquisition system for dutch-roll, roll, sideslip left, sideslip right, stabilized g turn left, stabilized g turn right, and push-pull maneuvers …

An Investigation Of The Relationships Between The Angle Of Mental Rotation Required For Spatial Orientation, Response Times, And Accuracy, Ronald D. Archer

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the angles of mental rotation when attempting to spatially orientate and the resulting response times and levels of accuracy. By means of a computer program, participants were presented with 64 mental rotational trials. The mental rotational trials consisted of a triangle placed in the center of the screen with a standard stick symbol of an aircraft appearing at various headings and orientations around the triangle. The participants were required to imagine themselves inside the flight deck of the aircraft, and then respond as quickly and accurately as possible to …

A Comparison Of Two Geo-Centric Attitude Indicators As Aids To Unusual Attitude Recovery: Pictorial Vs. Symbolic Displays, Christopher Cohoes

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Aircraft require high cognitive quality aircraft attitude information. Evidence will be presented on aircrew decision-making performance on an unusual attitude recovery task using three different types of attitude displays. Results indicated that among a sample of low-flight time student pilots attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, mean reaction times were significantly faster and error rates significantly lower using an outside-in pictorial display than with either an outside-in symbolic display or an attitude gyro. This is attributed to the pictorial display being a more intuitive display by providing a more natural or realistic representation of aircraft orientation than the other two displays. The …

A Direct Synthesis Method For The Conceptual Design Of Transport Aircraft, Pierre Andre Fruytier

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The problem of synthesizing a transport aircraft at the conceptual design level is considered. A direct sizing algorithm that does not require iteration is developed. Such direct synthesis methods can be used as important building blocks in an aircraft optimization process. New statistical equations based on current aircraft are derived for approximating the widths and lengths of the cabin and fuselage. A more accurate static thrust over gross weight, which is based on the equations of motion specified by the FAR part 25 climb requirements, is presented. A cruise at constant altitude with optional step-climb is taken into account. The …

Dynamic Simulation Of General Aviation Cabin Environments And Occupant Restraint Systems, Mark A. Shilladay

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

After a five year study of General Aviation (GA) accidents, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded that aircraft cabin environments place the occupant at high risk of suffering severe injuries in an emergency crash situation. Studies of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) seat tests were used to form the basis of a computer analysis to address dynamic cabin environments. In this effort a simplified system of masses, springs, and dampers are used to simulate the more complex configuration of cabin structure, seat, pilot, and restraints on a personal computer. The primary objective of this study is to accurately simulate …

Analysis And Modeling Of An Airport Departure Process, Joseph E. Hebert

Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzes departure delays at a major airport using probability models to represent this non-homogeneous process. The models developed in this study expand on the Markovian models presently used by employing the method of stages to represent some of the model processes. This technique improves the user's ability to achieve a close fit for the service time probability distribution while maintaining the advantages of the Markovian model. The three types of models developed and compared all assume a Markovian system entry process. The first model uses an exponential distribution to model the service process. The second uses an Erlang …

The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Strike: A Retrospective Analysis, Steven E. Durnin

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to assess the opinions, beliefs, and perspectives of former air traffic controllers who were terminated from employment with the Federal Aviation Administration for participating in the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) strike of 1981. The study examines the perceptions of the former controllers to determine their feelings toward the justification for going on strike over 13 years ago. This is relevant in light of recent events including the lifting of the ban against rehiring PATCO controllers by the Clinton Administration.

The data collected for this study were obtained with an opinionnaire mailed via …

Incorporation Of Traffic Collision Alert System (Tcas) Advisories On Heads-Up Displays: Enhanced Pilot Response, Hamadeh A. Nureddine

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

This study evaluated the effects that heads-up mounted TCAS displays had on pilot response and workload. Pilot response was evaluated by: (a) response time to a traffic advisory, and (b) number of missed traffic alerts. Workload assessment was accomplished in accordance with NASA's Task Load Index (TLX). Subjects were all licensed pilots with a minimum of a private pilot license and an instrument rating. A total of 32 subjects were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups utilizing HUD-mounted, and conventional, TCAS displays respectively. Performance data was collected during computer-simulated flights, while subjective workload levels were reported at the end. …

An Investigation Of The Floor Attachment Assembly Of A Large Transport Aircraft Seat Subjected To Crash Dynamic Loadings, Mark William Creager

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Accident investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the passenger seat and restraint systems found in today's aircraft used by the airlines are inadequate to protect the occupant in airplane crashes. Computer models were developed of the seat-track assembly and finite element analyses were performed subjected to crash dynamic loadings. The seat-track interface was modeled with gap elements to accurately model the geometric interaction between the track and seat-track fittings. Results showed large deformations and stresses above yielding in both the seat and track when subjected to accelerations prescribed for certification under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.

Ground Collision Avoidance Using A Variable Incidence Altitude Measurement System For The A-7 Aircraft, Thomas A. Hartung

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the use of a forward looking sensor in the implementation of an automatic terrain following system. The effect of the incidence angle is studied as well as methodologies to include dynamic motion in the pointing of the sensor beam. The methods examined include fixed angle with respect to the aircraft, dynamics driven by a simple gain, and dynamics directed to gather the terrain information a fixed time interval ahead of the aircraft. Incidence angles of 25, 50, 75, and 90 are examined. The terrain obstacles include a single parabolic hill, a step change is terrain, and a …

Investigation Of Advanced Aircraft Performance Measures Of Merit Including New Agility Metrics, Bruce A. Fox

Theses and Dissertations

Advanced aircraft performance measures of merit have been proposed and individually analyzed by various researchers. These metrics have been consolidated into a single computer code as part of this research effort. This code was used to study the relationships between the advanced metrics, aircraft design metrics and an aircraft's trajectory performance. The study found a linear relationship existed between the advanced metrics and the design metrics. This relationship was used to quantify the required levels of the advanced metrics which would give desired changes in trajectory performance. The results showed that advanced metrics could be applied only to very specific …

Agility: Presentation And Flight Test Methods For The Operational Fighter Pilot, William R. Langdon

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis develops both metrics and flight test techniques to measure agility. During development of both the agility metrics and the flight test techniques, previous work conducted by the agility community and the Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base was used as a lessons learned tool to insure favorable results. Both simulator and flight testing was performed to validate the flight test techniques. During simulator testing several problems with the original flight test techniques were noted. Flight testing on the pitch agility flight test technique solved most of its problems but problems found during roll testing in the …

Pronated Escape System For Fighter Aircraft, Allen D. Disselkoen Jr., Robert F. Gargiulo, James E. Haywood, Keith H. Heise, Darrell H. Holcombe, Stuart C. Kramer, Gregory R. Miller, Jeffrey S. Nicholson, Curtis H. Spenny

AFIT Patents

An improved aircraft ejection seat system is described which embodies a forward leaning position for an occupant of the aircraft providing enhanced acceleration tolerance for an occupant during ejection from the cockpit, comprising a platform supporting at a rearward end thereof a seat having a seat back and seat pan sized and configured for accommodating the occupant, a forwardly disposed cowling integral with and faired to the platform for providing windblast protection to the occupant, a solid or cushioned upright wall member disposed centrally of the platform and extending between the seat and cowling and supporting an inclined chest plate …

Aerodynamic Forces On Flight Crew Helmets, Timothy A. Sestak, Richard M. Howard, Chester A. Heard

Publications

Wind tunnel tests were conducted to deter- mine the aerodynamic forces generated on aircrew flight helmets. Three helmets were tested: two used by aircrews flying ejection seat aircraft in the U.S. military, the Navy HGU-33/P and the Air Force HGU-53/P; and one prototype helmet of significantly different shape and volume. Axial and normal forces were measured through a range of pitch and yaw angles. It was found that large forces exist tending to promote helmet loss during ejection, and that simple modifications to the current helmet configurations can reduce those forces by as much as 40%. It is demonstrated that …

Weatherford Air Show And General Thomas P. Stafford Museum Dedication, City Of Weatherford

Programs

This is a program from the 1987 Weatherford Air Show and General Thomas P. Stafford Museum Dedication in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

Unless stated otherwise within this repository collection, all materials are shared under the following Creative Commons license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License].

Second Annual Great Oklahoma Balloon Race & Airshow Gala Reception, Clarence E. Page Oklahoma Air And Space Museum

Programs

This is the program from the second annual Great Oklahoma Balloon Race & Airshow Gala Reception in honor of Astronaut, Lt. General Thomas P. Stafford. The event was held at the Clarence E. Page Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame and Museum in the Kirkpatrick Center in OKC, OK, on Thursday, August 16th, 1984.

Unless stated otherwise within this repository collection, all materials are shared under the following Creative Commons license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License].

Apollo/Soyuz Tv Guide: "Soyuz, Soyuz, This Is Apollo...", Bob Button

Articles

This is a TV Guide from 1975 that features a story about the televised Apollo/Soyuz mission.

Faa/Dod Liaison In Management Of The National Aviation System, Ronald S. Brooks, Jerry L. Beatty

Theses and Dissertations

This study describes and analyzes military and FAA liaison efforts which impact on the management of the National Aviation System. It begins with the historical development of the National Airspace System (NAS), The system is evolutionary in nature and most innovations have come from user demands and outside sources, Long term government responsibility to manage the system has been secondary to the operation and maintenance functions, There has been duplication of effort due to poor coordination on developing common goals, The military has been the leader in developing technology that led to improvement of the system.

Astronaut Activity Involving Pete Conrad, Elliot See, Thomas Stafford And Ed White, Nasa

Videos

Astronaut Activity Involving Pete Conrad, Elliot See, Thomas Stafford and Ed White

• This item documents the time period of July 8, 1963–July 12, 1963.

Aircraft Quality Casting Standards, Robert Katz, Robert Bolin , Depositor

Robert Katz Publications

These standards are to be used in connection with the Handbook for Instructions for Aircraft Designers, 8^th Edition …

In the radiography of aircraft castings, markings appearing on the film may be attributed to either the condition of the castings examined, or to some details of the radiographic process entirely unrelated to the quality of the castings, These latter patterns must be recognized and related to the radiographic process so that sound castings will not be unnecessarily rejected. Radiographs must be carefully compared with the surface irregularities of the casting they represent before an attempt is made to …