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Pilot evaluation of sailplane handling qualities
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Bennett Jr., A. G. |
| Copyright Year | 1978 |
| Description | The evaluation sailplanes were found generally deficient in the area of cockpit layout. The pilots indicated general dissatisfaction with high pitch sensitivity especially when coupled with inertially induced stick forces. While all sailplanes were judged satisfactory for centering thermals and in the ease of speed control in circling flight, pilot opinions diverged on the maneuvering response, pull-out characteristics from a dive, and on phugoid damping. Lateral-directional control problems were noted mainly during takeoff and landing for most sailplanes with the landing wheel ahead of center of gravity. Pilot opinion of in-flight lateral-directional stability and control was generally satisfactory. Five of the evaluation sailplanes exhibited a very narrow airspeed band in which perceptible stall warning buffet occurred. However, this characteristic was considered not objectionable when stall recovery was easy. The pilots objected to the characteristics of a wide airspeed band of stall warning followed by a stall with yawing and rolling tendency and substantial loss of altitude during the stall. Glide path control for the evaluation sailplanes was found to be generally objectionable. |
| File Size | 4596848 |
| Page Count | 93 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19780015138 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t2f815519 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 1978-05-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Aircraft Design, Testing And Performance Flight Characteristics Aircraft Stability Maneuverability Cockpits In-flight Monitoring Gliders Speed Control Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Technical Report |
