Flight Testing

As spinning is involved in around 60% of all aircraft accidents, this aerodynamic phenomenon is still not fully understood. This book contributes to a better understanding of the spin through investigating the spin regime for normal, utility and aerobatic aircraft, and to explain what happens to the aircraft in terms of the aerodynamics, flight mechanics and the aircraft stability. The approach used is to vary the main geometric parameters such as the center of gravity position and the aeroplane’s mass across the flight envelope, and to investigate the subsequent effect on the main spin characteristic parameters. A conventional-geometry, single-engine low-wing aeroplane, has been instrumented with a proven digital flight measurement system and 27 spins have been systematically conducted inside and outside the certified flight envelope. The data collected include left and right wing a and ß-angles, roll-pitch-yaw angles and corresponding rates, all control surface deflections, vertical speeds, altitude losses and the aeroplane’s accelerations in all three directions. Such data have been statistically analysed and the pitch behaviour has been mathematically modelled. These results can be used to improve flight test programmes, aircraft design processes, flight training materials and hence contribute strongly to better flight safety.