Reference no: EM133102063

6ENT1149 Flight Test Investigation - University of Hertfordshire

Pilot Studies and Flight Planning

Learning Outcome 1: Demonstrate understanding of the various modes of motion, principles of flight, performance characteristics and handling qualities from a pilots perspective

Learning Outcome 2: Be able to measure and evaluate critically the performance characteristics of an aircraft from flight data

Assignment Brief:

Using flight-simulation software (X-plane, Merlin, Desktop controls, Microsoft FS) undertake a flight test exercise of a Cessna 172.

Submit a formal lab report investigating the following:

Flight-test analysis of the following manoeuvres, critically analysing what is happening to the aircraft.

1. Flying at best-glide speed, no flaps deployed and power at idle, representing a practice forced landing
2. Full-power climb at 70 knots and one stage of flap, representing climb-out
3. Spiral dive (NOT a spin)
4. Stall at 1500rpm engine speed and no flaps deployed

You must provide evidence of your own recorded data. Your personal accuracy of flight is not an assessment factor; however, practicing to improve your skill will undoubtedly provide more accurate and relevant data, and where your flight is not a typical one you should repeat it until it is. The minimum data you will need to record are: times, speeds, distances, altitude, thrust, deflections of all control surfaces.

The report should include background theory which discusses the various environmental and physical factors that affect aircraft performance. Refer to section 4 of the 172 POH for speeds and section 5 for performance tables (or equivalent if using another aircraft).

When producing graphs, be sure to consider all relevant parameters, and choose the most significant combinations to compare. For instance, plotting roll angle during a stall is relevant because it identifies whether a wing drops; plotting lift versus angle of attack isn't very useful because it will simply reproduce the lift curve for the aircraft's wing section. Choose very carefully what parameters to plot against each other - in many cases, plotting a parameter against time will be best, but not always. Where you plot multiple graphs (which will be the case for most conditions), show the graphs at a reasonable size, consider carefully what scaling and range to use (don't plot the entire flight or the relevant part will be almost invisible), and use the same time range for all graphs (where relevant) so that multiple parameters can be compared easily.

Attachment:- Flight Test Assignment Briefing.rar