AN IN-FLIGHT SIMULATION OF HANDLING QUALITIES OF THE SV-5P (PILOT) LIFTING BODY WITH VARIOUS FEEDBACK GAINS AND RUDDER TO AILERON INTERCONNECT RATIOS

The results of an in-flight simulation program to investigate longitudinal and lateral-directional handling qualities of the Martin SV-5P Pilot lifting body are presented and discussed. The in-flight simulation was a point stability simulation at five flight conditions 1 Re-entry Glide, 2 Boost A, 3 Burnout, 4 Boost B, and 5 Landing Approach. The in-flight simulation was primarily a lateral-directional investigation, the longitudinal characteristics simulated at each flight condition remained fixed. Nine lateral-directional configurations were investigated for each flight condition for a total of 45 different configurations. The nine lateral-directional configurations at each flight condition were obtained by varying the SV-5P rudder to aileron interconnect ratio and the yaw and roll damping feedback gains. The USAFCAL variable stability T-33 airplane was used as an in-flight simulator. A CAL and a Martin pilot each evaluated 50 configurations. A NASA and a USAF pilot each evaluated 6 configurations. All the configurations were evaluated in straight and level flight. In addition, the landing approach configurations were evaluated during descent at a simulated maximum LD of the SV-5P. The handling qualities simulated were evaluated by the pilots based on the mission requirements and tasks at each flight condition of the SV-5P. Pilot comments were recorded on each configuration, and the pilots rated the configurations using a new pilot rating scale. The pilot comments and ratings were analyzed and interpreted in the light of the simulated characteristics and their handling qualities.