FLIGHT EVALUATION OF LONGITUDINAL FLYING QUALITIES PARAMETERS.

Flight tests were conducted using Princeton University's Variable-Response Research Aircraft, which simulated a range of aircraft/control configurations including conventional and high-order systems. Five test pilots evaluated 45 configurations for pitch response, final approach using an aircraft carrier mirror landing aid, and flared touchdown. Their handling qualities ratings were correlated with military flying qualities specifications as well as five alternate criteria. Although there was good correlation between ratings for actual (high-order) and equivalent-system (low-order) configurations, interpretation of results for high-order systems was inconclusive, indicating a need for further tests. Correlation of the pilots' handling qualities ratings with the alternate criteria generally were weak, although a second-order control anticipation parameter and a gain/phase margin criterion showed promise.