FTE 5701
AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE FLIGHT TESTING
Airplane Flight Testing ii
©Department of Aerospace, Physics, and Space Sciences Florida Institute of Technology
LABORATORY MANUAL
Airplane Flight Testing i
©Department of Aerospace, Physics, and Space Sciences Florida Institute of Technology
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD..................................................................................................................................ii
GENERAL INFORMATION...................................................................................................... 1
Recommended Literature Readings .......................................................................................... 1
University Catalog Description.................................................................................................. 1
Policies........................................................................................................................................ 1
Grading....................................................................................................................................... 1
Lab Report Format..................................................................................................................... 2
FLIGHT CONDUCT.................................................................................................................... 4
Airplane Layout.......................................................................................................................... 4
Airplane Cabin ........................................................................................................................... 4
Operation of Seat Belts .............................................................................................................. 4
Operation of Doors..................................................................................................................... 5
Recommended Apparel .............................................................................................................. 5
Required Accessories ................................................................................................................. 5
Radio and Intercom Etiquette and Procedures......................................................................... 5
GENERAL SAFETY RULES...................................................................................................... 6
Emergency Evacuation Procedure............................................................................................ 6
Fire on Ground .......................................................................................................................... 6
Fire in Flight.............................................................................................................................. 6
Physiological Discomforts ......................................................................................................... 7
Situational Awareness and Crew Resource Management........................................................ 7
DEFINITIONS .............................................................................................................................. 8
Airspeeds..................................................................................................................................... 8
ATMOSPHERIC DATA.............................................................................................................. 9
The United States Standard Atmosphere .................................................................................. 9
AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATIONS .............................................................................................. 10
General Characteristics ........................................................................................................... 10
AIRSPEEDS ................................................................................................................................ 12
Stalling Speed Multiples and Climb Airspeeds ....................................................................... 12
WEIGHT AND BALANCE ....................................................................................................... 13
INSTRUMENT CORRECTIONS............................................................................................. 15
Center Seat Airspeed Indicator................................................................................................ 15
Aft Seat Airspeed Indicator...................................................................................................... 16
Center Seat Altitude Indicator................................................................................................. 17
Aft Seat Altitude Indicator....................................................................................................... 17
Position Error for the PA-32-260............................................................................................ 18
Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six................................................................................................ 19
Familiarization to the Flight Test Aircraft, Procedures, and Test Environment ................. 20
Determination of Position Correction using the GPS Method ............................................... 21
Determination of Stalling Speeds .............................................................................................. 23
Determination of Level Flight Performance............................................................................. 25
Determination of Climb Performance ...................................................................................... 28
Level Acceleration Test .............................................................................................................. 31
Airplane Flight Testing ii
©Department of Aerospace, Physics, and Space Sciences Florida Institute of Technology
FOREWORD
The objective of FTE 5701 is to train graduate students in the procedures, techniques, and
data reduction involved with flight testing fixed-winged aircraft. The flight labs performed during
this course involve airspeed calibration, stall speed determination, level-flight performance, climb
performance, level acceleration, and take off & landing distance. The measurement of airplane
performance during a flight test program is one of the more important tasks, because it impacts the
airplane’s safety and marketability. Performance sells airplanes.
Ralph D. Kimberlin, Dr.-Ing., FAA DER,
Professor, Flight Test Engineering
Department of Aerospace, Physics, and Space Sciences
College of Engineering and Science
Florida Institute of Technology
Brian A. Kish, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Program Chair, Flight Test Engineering
Department of Aerospace, Physics, and Space Sciences
College of Engineering and Science
Florida Institute of Technology
Airplane Flight Testing 1
©Department of Aerospace, Physics, and Space Sciences Florida Institute of Technology
GENERAL INFORMATION
Recommended Literature Readings
Flight Testing of Fixed-Wing Aircraft by Ralph D. Kimberlin, AIAA Ed. Series
University Catalog Description
Examines flight test engineering techniques to determine airplane performance. Includes flight
labs for data collections. Presents data analysis and interpretation methods, and uses airplane
performance theory to develop the equations necessary to reduce flight test data taken at altitude
to sea-level. Covers both propeller and jet aircraft.
Policies
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory for all class lectures unless prior notification and approval
is given. Official excuses include medical leave, family emergency, or similar events. Due to
limited flights, there is no opportunity for students to make-up a flight. Crews can be re-arranged
to facilitate actual attendance. Airplane weight and balance will dictate crew assignments.
Original Work: Florida Tech upholds the highest standards of academic integrity. It expects all
students to produce high-level, original work. Student flight crews will be sharing data among
groups, yet every student will perform his or her own original work.
Late Work: Lab reports are due by the dates listed in the syllabus. Late reports, unless approved
by the professor, will not be accepted.
Grading
Grades will be based on the final lab report and exams.
Airplane Flight Testing 2
©Department of Aerospace, Physics, and Space Sciences Florida Institute of Technology
Lab Report Format
Flight Test Reports are a fundamental product presented by the flight test engineers. Appropriate
report writing skills are expected to have already been developed in undergraduate level laboratory
courses. This section describes each lab report section, including expectations and supplemental
data.
Title Page: The title page of reports should include the course number and name, the lab test name
and number, and the date on which the flight was conducted. All crew member names need to be
listed.
Abstract: The abstract summarizes the scope of the flight test, the reasoning behind the scope, the
procedures and the conclusions drawn. The results should be summarized appropriately, in the
form of paragraphs. This section should not be any longer than one page.
Table of Contents: The table of contents should include the page numbers for all sections. Note
that page numbers should start on the abstract, with roman numerals. Arabic numerals should start
from the introduction section of the report.
Introduction (§1.0): The introduction is divided into different subsections:
1. Test Item Description (§1.1): This section describes the aircraft subjected to flight
testing. The aircraft make and model, configuration, tail number and other relevant
characteristics should be noted.
2. Test Location (§1.2): This section describes the testing environment such as the airport
name and ICAO identification, the time of day, weather specifications (METAR
observations). Use both local and ZULU times.
3. Flight Test Procedure (§1.3): This section should mention the test procedure, the crew
members’ contributions, the aircraft configuration during data collection.
Data Reduction (§2.0): The data reduction section is where the mathematical logic, algorithm, and
equations are presented. Provide details on the data reduction process with sample calculations.
An outsider reading the report should be able to understand how the data collected were
transformed into useful information.
Flight Analysis (§3.0): All results are to be reported in this section, in the form of tables, graphs,
and written analysis. Extend your analysis to beyond the results found; explain the consequences
to aeronautical procedures, aviation safety, human factors, aerodynamics, or stability and control.
Appropriate comparison to theoretical data is to be generated through Pilot Information Manuals
(PIM) or Pilot Operating Handbooks (POH). Percent differences should be used for comparison.
Curve fittings should be done when extrapolation is required or when an equation of a curve is
needed. If not, curves can be generated using ship or French curves. Outliers considered invalid
should be marked as such