Video exponentially improves our ability to use picture to communicate 10,000 words, and this is not only one of the fundamental ATOMs but also an elementary and critical element in the strategy to inform and invest. These are just a few of the reasons videos consistently make it to these posts.
Flight Test on YouTube is a bit like Alice in Wonderland — once you go down the rabbit hole, you may not come back out. Here are some fantastic resources and some YouTube channels from FTOs.
NASA’s historic register
GE Aviation
Here’s a sampling of others (with an admitted but unintentional European theme). Snecma Safran Group
This new column will feature a brief description, photo or video, and/or reference that talks about a Flight Test Technique that students at USAF Test Pilot School are currently learning. It’s an alphabetical list of FTTs together with a chronological account of what future test pilots and flight test engineers are doing right now. It will complement the previous Friday’s FTT tweets as well.
What is an FTT? It is the fundamental maneuver building block used by flight test engineers and experimental test pilots.
If you are wondering “what is a systems FTT?” then start here.
Examples of systems flight test on civil aircraft include TAWS–terrain avoidance and warning system.
Terrain awareness and avoidance are one of the hottest areas of system flight test, research and development.
TAWS (terrain avoidance warning system)–a terrain database integrated with an aircraft navigation system and multi-function displays.
@NASADryden and @LockheedMartin have been been flight testing Automatic Collision Avoidance Technology integrated with the aircraft flight control system/autopilot on an F-16 flying test bed at Edwards AFB. Click here for the NASA website, photos, and videos about the project.
This post summarizes references and #FTT tweets from the previous Friday. What is #FTT Friday?
#FTT Friday
Each Friday, @FlightTestFact will deliver examples, definitions, and explanations of flight test techniques for the entire day. You can view these tweets by searching for #FTT and #flighttest as depicted below. You can also click on the picture below to be taken to the twitter search results. What FTT would you like to know more about?
This new column will feature a brief description, photo or video, and/or reference that talks about a Flight Test Technique that students at USAF Test Pilot School are currently learning. It’s an alphabetical list of FTTs together with a chronological account of what future test pilots and flight test engineers are doing right now. It will complement the previous Friday’s FTT tweets as well.
What is a doublet?
1. An elementary open loop maneuever performed in a single axis of motion.
2. A flight control input used in flying qualities flight test to excite an aircraft mode of motion. Here is a video of a Bonanza doing a rudder doublet to excite the lateral directional modes of motion.
3. A symmetric input in both directions–for example, you could push the stick forward one inch then pull the stick back (past neutral) one inch and then return to center.
Here is a time history plot of the response to a doublet performed using rudder pedals, for example.
What is a singlet?
An asymmetric flight control input in one direction. For example, you could push the stick forward one inch then then return to center.
Here is a time history plot of the singlet – the flight control input (elevator) is the third line, and the other lines are the aircraft response.
This post summarizes references and #FTT tweets from the previous Friday. What is #FTT Friday?
#FTT Friday
Each Friday, @FlightTestFact will deliver examples, definitions, and explanations of flight test techniques for the entire day. You can view these tweets by searching for #FTT and #flighttest as depicted below. You can also click on the picture below to be taken to the twitter search results. What FTT would you like to know more about?
