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1991

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Articles 1 - 30 of 30

Full-Text Articles in Aviation

Computerized Aircraft Accident Investigation: Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspectors' Perceptions, David S. Ryan Dec 1991

Computerized Aircraft Accident Investigation: Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspectors' Perceptions, David S. Ryan

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to solicit the perceptions of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASIs) on the use of a personal computer in the aircraft accident investigation process. A descriptive study survey questionnaire was used to collect the data for the study, which was sent to 150 FAA ASIs. The data collected supported the hypothesis that aircraft accident investigators think the use of a computer will help them with accident report form completion, managing the accident data collected, and in determining the factors contributing to an accident. Furthermore, the data supported the hypothesis that the use …

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An Investigation Of The Floor Attachment Assembly Of A Large Transport Aircraft Seat Subjected To Crash Dynamic Loadings, Mark William Creager Dec 1991

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.

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Structured Hypermedia Application Development Model (Shadm): A Structured Model For Technical Documentation Application Design, Peter W. Cassell Dec 1991

Structured Hypermedia Application Development Model (Shadm): A Structured Model For Technical Documentation Application Design, Peter W. Cassell

Theses and Dissertations

This research was conducted to determine how a Royal Australian Air Force technical maintenance publication could be transformed into a task oriented hypermedia application and to develop a model that could be used for future similar transformations. The model was developed following in-depth analysis of the existing USAF F-15E maintenance publication set and validation was conducted using a prototype developed in HyperWriter, a commercial hypermedia product. The prototype model was based around the performance of three maintenance tasks on an aircraft sub-subsystem and incorporated online user access to the necessary support data for task completion. Publication managers, producers, and users …

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Ground Collision Avoidance Using A Variable Incidence Altitude Measurement System For The A-7 Aircraft, Thomas A. Hartung Dec 1991

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 …

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An Analysis Of The Information Requirements Of Conus Based Deputy Commanders For Maintenance, Daniel J. Green Dec 1991

An Analysis Of The Information Requirements Of Conus Based Deputy Commanders For Maintenance, Daniel J. Green

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to identify the information requirements of Air Force Deputy Commanders for Maintenance. It had three basic objectives: (1) identify the critical success factors that they monitor on a continuous basis, (2) identify similarities in those requirements for all DGMs and across major commands, and (3) determine if the application of information technology would enhance their decision making. Surveys were sent to all CONUS based Deputy Commanders for Maintenance. The study found that there were nine critical success factors that were used by a majority of all respondents. In addition, nine command-specific critical success factors …

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Bulletin - Fall, 1991, Civil Aviation Medical Association Oct 1991

Bulletin - Fall, 1991, Civil Aviation Medical Association

Browse all Civil Aviation Medical Association Newsletters

An eight page newsletter of the Civil Aviation Medical Association. The newsletter provided news about civil aviation medicine and information related to the organization.

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An Investigation Of Project Management Techniques For Scheduling Raaf Depot Level Maintenance, Kerry M. Bayley Sep 1991

An Investigation Of Project Management Techniques For Scheduling Raaf Depot Level Maintenance, Kerry M. Bayley

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates scheduling performances of commercial project management software. It is based on difficulties that the Royal Australian Air Force experienced in evaluating microcomputer-based packages in maintenance task scheduling of aircraft undergoing Depot Level Maintenance. A literature review found only one paper quantifying commercial software performances. No standard performance metrics or test data were found. Several packages were evaluated using a common set of 110 single-project resource- constrained networks. The performance measure used was closeness to optimally minimum Total Durations. No package performed best on all problems. On average, the best produced schedules 5.2% longer than optimal, with 95 …

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An Analysis Of Fixed Wing Tactical Airlifter Characteristics Using An Intra-Theater Airlift Computer Model, Paul Pappas Sep 1991

An Analysis Of Fixed Wing Tactical Airlifter Characteristics Using An Intra-Theater Airlift Computer Model, Paul Pappas

Theses and Dissertations

This study used computer simulation to identify which tactical airlifter characteristics most significantly affected tactical airlift capability in a given scenario. The Generalized Air Mobility model was used to simulate a tactical airlift system. Aircraft characteristics within the model were grouped into six variables. A 2(6) two level full factorial experimental design was used to assess the effect of changes in aircraft characteristics on the effectiveness of the tactical airlift system. Yates algorithm was used to identify significant terms based upon the results of the factorial experiment. These significant terms were used to develop a parsimonious regression model that represented …

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A Model For Estimating Aircraft Recoverable Spares Annual Costs, Phillip L. Redding Sep 1991

A Model For Estimating Aircraft Recoverable Spares Annual Costs, Phillip L. Redding

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis covers three objectives: (1) develop a background reference document concerning recoverable spares cost estimating; (2) evaluate a representative sample of existing spares cost models; and (3) use aircraft physical and performance characteristics to develop a model for estimating annual replenishment spares cost. A condemnations cost estimating relationship (CER) was developed first and then both a CER and spreadsheet generated factors which related condemnations to replenishment spares costs were developed. For the condemnations CER, only logarithmic transformations provided statistically acceptable results, and even these models exhibited wide prediction intervals due to large amount of variability in the CER databases …

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An Evaluation Of Logistics Support For F-16 Aircraft Owned By Foreign Countries, Paul J. Lyons Sep 1991

An Evaluation Of Logistics Support For F-16 Aircraft Owned By Foreign Countries, Paul J. Lyons

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to examine the logistics support provided by the United States Air Force (USAF) for F-16 aircraft owned by foreign countries. The research drew from historical trends and personal experiences to examine the ability of the U.S. to provide logistics support for F-16 aircraft owned by U.S. allies. The study found that timely, efficient support of FMS customers possessing F-16 aircraft does not appear to be a principal concern of the USAF logistics system. Complexity of processes, untimely responses, and failure to consider customer needs are common failings on the part of the USAF.

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Study On In-Theater Maintenance Support For Poaf F-16, Rui J. Gomes Sep 1991

Study On In-Theater Maintenance Support For Poaf F-16, Rui J. Gomes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the capacity to generate a desired level of sorties of the F-16 weapon system. This capacity depends on the maintenance concept and structure, that defines a specific level of in-theater resources available. The theater is intended to reflect Portuguese Air Force logistic operations planned for the F-16, with one operational base and a possible Centralized Intermediate Repair Facility (CIRF), not co-located. The TSAR simulation program and one USAF database was used to perform the evaluation were defined and compared. The study focused on the unscheduled maintenance tasks and repairable items, in particular …

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Inaccurate Data Entry Into The Air Force Maintenance Data Collection System, Jon R. Determan Sep 1991

Inaccurate Data Entry Into The Air Force Maintenance Data Collection System, Jon R. Determan

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the data collection environment under the Core Automated Maintenance System (CAMS), a computerized information system used in the Air Force's aircraft maintenance complexes. The research measured maintenance personnel's perception of the nature, extent, and causes of data inaccuracies occurring in the CAMS data collection environment. The nature was differentiated as being either intentional or accidental. Maintenance personnel felt that difficulty in entering information into CAMS accounted for the largest percentage of intentional errors and that insufficient training on CAMS accounted for the largest percentage of accidental errors. A comparison of this research to the results of earlier …

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An Exploratory Application Of Neural Networks To The Sortie Generation Forecasting Problem, James M. Dagg Sep 1991

An Exploratory Application Of Neural Networks To The Sortie Generation Forecasting Problem, James M. Dagg

Theses and Dissertations

This exploratory study assesses the accuracy of backpropagation neural networks in predicting sortie generations, given pre-specified levels of air base resources. Single hidden layer networks and two-way interaction regression metamodels were fitted to simulated data previously generated by way of a factional design for ten factors at two levels, and subsequently tested (cross-validated) via an independent testing sample. It was determined that regression metamodels were generally superior in predicting unseen cases, while their network counterparts exhibited far better goodness-of-fit characteristics. The research consistently emphasizes that goodness-of-fit in no way necessarily implies goodness-of-prediction, in that different non-equivalent statistical measures are required …

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Desert Express: An Analysis On Improved Customer Service, Thomas C. Thalheim Sep 1991

Desert Express: An Analysis On Improved Customer Service, Thomas C. Thalheim

Theses and Dissertations

Operation Desert Shield/Storm provided an opportunity to test the planning for U.S. forces to operate in a low intensity conflict. Both operations provided the opportunity for the logistics community to observe how the support forces provided the required supplies to the forward combat forces. In response to customers' requests, the U.S. Transportation Command created Desert Express, a daily package express flight from Charleston, SC to Saudi Arabia. The research question addresses the how and why Desert Express came about. Additional investigative questions cover the following: mission objectives, planners' and customers' expectations, system performance, and implications on the Defense Transportation System. …

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A Study Of Pilot Attitudes Regarding The Impact On Mission Effectiveness Of Using New Cockpit Automation Technologies To Replace The Navigator/Weapon System Officer/Electronic Warfare Officer, William K. Starr, Donald A. Welch Sep 1991

A Study Of Pilot Attitudes Regarding The Impact On Mission Effectiveness Of Using New Cockpit Automation Technologies To Replace The Navigator/Weapon System Officer/Electronic Warfare Officer, William K. Starr, Donald A. Welch

Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzed the self-reported survey responses of 404 Air Force pilots concerning their perceptions of using advanced cockpit technologies to replace the Navigator, Weapon System Officer, and Electronic Warfare Officer (Nav/WSO/EWO) and the impact of advanced cockpit technologies on combat mission effectiveness. The first objective of this study was to compare, by aircraft type, the mission effectiveness factors that are always critical and almost always critical to the success of a combat mission. The second objective was to examine, from the pilot's point of view, the Nav/WSO/EWO's contribution (NAVCRIT) to enhancing the combat mission effectiveness factors. The third objective …

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Efficient Aircrew Scheduling In An Operational Test And Evaluation Organization, Charles P. Modrich Sep 1991

Efficient Aircrew Scheduling In An Operational Test And Evaluation Organization, Charles P. Modrich

Theses and Dissertations

The original intent of this research was to locate or develop tools which would improve the efficiency of the aircrew scheduling process in the 4950 Test Wing. However, late in the research it became apparent that several factors observed by the researcher complicate the implementation of more efficient methods. Therefore, the focus of the research became the documentation of those factors. A case study methodology was used in answering the investigative questions. This was an exploratory study conducted in a field setting environment. Direct observation and the use of structural interviews with scheduling personnel were the methods of data collection. …

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Investigation Of Advanced Aircraft Performance Measures Of Merit Including New Agility Metrics, Bruce A. Fox Sep 1991

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 …

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Analysis Of Department Of Defense Organic Depot Maintenance Capacity Management And Facility Utilization Factors, Marlies Dewoody Sep 1991

Analysis Of Department Of Defense Organic Depot Maintenance Capacity Management And Facility Utilization Factors, Marlies Dewoody

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effects of mandated depot capacity utilization rates on throughput, inventory, and operating expense. The measures of merit analyzed were work in process inventories, leadtime, and throughput. Since the services do not use a common computer system to track/compute capacity data, a computer simulation provided the data used to meet the research objectives. The simulation modeled a serially interdependent system subject to statistical fluctuations. Variability in the system was reduced by reducing the spread around the processing time mean. Buffer inventories were placed in front of each process to protect the process from variability. Constrained systems were …

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Determining Production Capability In Aircraft Maintenance: A Regression Analysis, Charles R. Jung Sep 1991

Determining Production Capability In Aircraft Maintenance: A Regression Analysis, Charles R. Jung

Theses and Dissertations

This research analyzed twenty-three maintenance constraint and three production output performance measures for nine SAC aircraft systems. SAS System for Elementary Statistical Analysis is used to analyze twenty-one months of ex post facto maintenance data. Correlation analysis is used to identify maintenance constraints that assist in explaining aircraft maintenance production capability. Forward stepwise regression is used to build predictive models of maintenance production capability for each of the nine aircraft systems. The twenty-three maintenance constraint measures are regressed against three productivity output measures: Mission Capable Rate, Total Not Mission Capable Supply Rate and Total Not Mission Capable Maintenance Rate. The …

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A Guide For The Consideration Of Composite Material Impacts On Airframe Costs, Jeffrey L. Isom Sep 1991

A Guide For The Consideration Of Composite Material Impacts On Airframe Costs, Jeffrey L. Isom

Theses and Dissertations

This study provides a guide to cost analysts who must consider the impact of composite materials on airframe costs. A literature review was conducted to determine the availability of cost models which incorporate the effect of composites on cost. A number of models are available, but no individual model was found that is applicable for every situation. In order to provide a baseline upon which analysts can compare model results as well as provide guidance in selecting cost drivers, a Delphi survey was conducted. Questionnaire results indicate that composite weight (as a percentage of total weight), composite part complexity, percentage …

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An Analysis Of Measures Used To Evaluate The Air Force Critical Item Program, Robert R. Lee Sep 1991

An Analysis Of Measures Used To Evaluate The Air Force Critical Item Program, Robert R. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of two measures, percent defects and cycle time, to measure the overall performance of the Air Force Critical Item Program (CIP). The need for such study was generated from the current absence of any measurement system available to evaluate the CIP. This research used these two measures with actual data, evaluated the correlation between aircraft availability and percent defects and cycle time, and analyzed management perceptions addressing the usefulness of these measures for field use. Performance of this analysis resulted in support for these measures by over two thirds of …

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Challenges To United States Tactical Air Force Aircraft Maintenance Personnel: Past, Present And Future, Barbara L. Harris Sep 1991

Challenges To United States Tactical Air Force Aircraft Maintenance Personnel: Past, Present And Future, Barbara L. Harris

Theses and Dissertations

This study assessed the challenges Tactical Air Force (TAF) aircraft maintenance personnel face as a result of the TAF reorganization. The goal was to provide aircraft maintenance managers a basis for evaluating and meeting those challenges. To accomplish this, emphasis was placed on documenting the concepts, events, and conditions which led to changes in military aircraft maintenance from the birth of aviation to the present. Current issues such as the proposed move to two-level maintenance and the formation of the TAF composite and Objective Wings were also addressed. Research was conducted through the review of available historical documents, complemented by …

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An Evaluation Of The Implementation Of Two-Levels Of Maintenance At Strategic Air Command Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Bases, Alan H. Russell Sep 1991

An Evaluation Of The Implementation Of Two-Levels Of Maintenance At Strategic Air Command Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Bases, Alan H. Russell

Theses and Dissertations

As a result of the 1979 Defense Management Review, Headquarters, Strategic Air Command has initiated programs of alternative levels of maintenance in order to trim excess costs. This study investigates the suitability of the SAC program which changed selected base-level strategic missile maintenance tasks from three to two-levels of maintenance. Using an opinion oriented questionnaire, this research surveyed a sample of missile maintenance personnel on their perceptions of the SAC program which implemented an alternative to intermediate-level maintenance. Analysis of survey results show respondents tended to believe the SAC program has not added benefit to their mission effectiveness. Other studies …

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Life Cycle Costs Of The C-130 Electrical Power System Upgrade, Theodore D. Seymour Sep 1991

Life Cycle Costs Of The C-130 Electrical Power System Upgrade, Theodore D. Seymour

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the life cycle costs of three alternative electrical power systems for a planned electrical system upgrade to the C-130 transport aircraft. Research identified the contractors as (1) Sundstrand, (2) Westinghouse, and (3) Leland. The literature review included discussions on the C-130, electrical power systems and the proposed alternatives, and the elements of life cycle cost analysis. In the discussion on supportability issues, this research evaluated changes in mission capable rates and the needed fleet size to perform the current mission. In estimating Operating and Support costs, this research used the analogy approach. Analogies were based on expert …

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An Analysis Of Total Quality Management In Aeronautical Systems Division, Mark D. Caudle Sep 1991

An Analysis Of Total Quality Management In Aeronautical Systems Division, Mark D. Caudle

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the major schools of thought on various aspects of quality management and quality improvement. Areas covered included definitions of waste and quality, views on the cost of quality, tools and techniques used for quality improvement, and management philosophies and frameworks for continuous improvement. In addition, this study analyzed the structure and training content of the current Total Quality Management program at Aeronautical Systems Division (ASD). Pre- and post-test surveys on employee attitudes toward organizational effective were analyzed from the Advanced Cruise Missile System Program Office (SPO), the F-15 SPO, and the ASD Deputy Chief of Staff for …

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The Effect Of Defense Management Review Decision 904, Stock Funding Depot Level Reparables, On Cash Flow Within The Reparable Support Division Of The Air Force Stock Fund, Deborah A. Elliot Aug 1991

The Effect Of Defense Management Review Decision 904, Stock Funding Depot Level Reparables, On Cash Flow Within The Reparable Support Division Of The Air Force Stock Fund, Deborah A. Elliot

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated what the potential cash flow condition of the Reparable Support Division of the Air Force Stock Fund might be after final implementation of the procedures outlined in Defense Management Review Decision 904, Stock Funding Depot Level Reparables. The operation of the future Reparable Support Division was modelled using the General Purpose Simulation Software (GPSS/H) package and future cash flow conditions were projected through use of this model. Recommendations were then made based on the results of these projections and based on other data gathered during the course of the research process.

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An Analytical Study Of The Effects Of Age And Experience On Flight Safety, Patrick C. Guide Apr 1991

An Analytical Study Of The Effects Of Age And Experience On Flight Safety, Patrick C. Guide

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are any significant decreases in the safety and effectiveness of pilots by age 60. The data for this study came from records of general aviation accidents (i.e., for private pilots, commercial pilots, and air transport pilots), and airline accidents (Part 121). These accident data were acquired from many specialized aviation data banks; these include: NTSB, AOPA, FAA, and the COMSIS Research Corporation. The data were organized into groups according to the ages of the pilots-in-command responsible for the accidents. Groupings progress in five-year increments starting at 20-24, and ending with …

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A Fully Coupled, Automated Formation Control System For Dissimilar Aircraft In Maneuvering Formation Flight, Paul R. Rohs Mar 1991

A Fully Coupled, Automated Formation Control System For Dissimilar Aircraft In Maneuvering Formation Flight, Paul R. Rohs

Theses and Dissertations

This study developed a fully automated formulation control system, capable of controlling a number of like or dissimilar aircraft in maneuvering formation flight. C-130 fixed wing aircraft and H-53 helicopters were modelled in various formulations and simulated through a mix of maneuvers. External formation guidance was assumed as a single data burst of nominal function guidance commands and separation distances for each wing aircraft in the formation. No communication was assumed between formation aircraft. Wing aircraft track lead aircraft maneuvering with an ideal on-board sensor, maneuvering to maintain relative position. It was determined that lead aircraft inputs must be attenuated …

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A Study Of Variables To Help Predict Navigator Training Success And Classification, Gary A. Hagler Mar 1991

A Study Of Variables To Help Predict Navigator Training Success And Classification, Gary A. Hagler

Theses and Dissertations

This study attempted to build statistical models which could possibly be used to help predict an individual's final outcome of pass or fail from Undergraduate Navigator Training (UNT). Also, the research tried to develop models to help place a potential trainee into one of the three training tracks at UNT. The variables studied were test scores from a computerized testing device which measured psychomotor and cognitive skills of individuals entering training. The Air Force Officers Qualifying Test (AFOQT) scores were also variables considered. Data was from 317 trainees from the years 1988 to 1990. Discriminant analysis was applied in an …

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Agility: Presentation And Flight Test Methods For The Operational Fighter Pilot, William R. Langdon Mar 1991

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 …

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