Stability and control of maneuvering high-performance aircraft

Stability and control characteristics of a high-performance aircraft have been examined over a wide range of maneuvering flight conditions, in order to identify methods for the design of departure-preventing control systems. This has been accomplished using fully coupled linear dynamic models, which account for nonzero mean values of aerodynamic angles and angular rates. Stability augmentation systems derived from optimal control theory are shown to maintain stable well-damped aircraft dynamics over a wide range of maneuvering flight conditions. This design approach generates crossfeeds and control interconnects (as well as conventional feedback terms) for improved aircraft stability.