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  • Pilot Induced Oscillation in F-16 Taxi Test (First Flight)

Pilot Induced Oscillation in F-16 Taxi Test (First Flight)

The unscheduled first flight of the F-16 was actually a result of severe pilot induced oscillation (PIO). The pilot reported that the safest option was to takeoff, to get away from the ground, when PIO was encountered during a high speed taxi test.

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  • Jason C

    Didn’t the test vechile for the Space Shuttle, Enterprise have the same PIO issues? As I understand PIO filters had to be designed into the FCS for both Space Shuttle and F-16. Even the Eurofighter, X-31, YF-22, and Gripen had the same issues.

  • Jason C

    Problems with PIO filters have been a problem since introduction of FBW. The Space Shuttle test vechile, Enterprise, Eurofighter, YF-22, X-31 and Gripen have all had these issues. Very interesting to see how programmers and control engineers have tackled the PIO filter issue. I did a project on this my senior year in college (I was CS major).

  • http://www.multiplyleadership.com Mark Jones Jr.

    Yes it did. Part of the shuttle’s problem with the PIO was the slow refresh rate of the displays in the shuttle that showed aircraft attitude and flight path vector.  I have some more videos of PIO on the same youtube channel that the shuttle PIO video is posted.  The C-17 (which I’ve flown) had a bad roll pio on final approach for many years too.