Overview:
Fundamentals of Flight Test Engineering is a class-room course which will provide basic introduction to aircraft flight test concepts, methods, and planning. Course focusses on concepts of aerodynamics, airplane performance, and stability and control. Practical exercises in aircraft performance, stability and control utilize single engine, multi-engine, and jet powered aircraft.

Course Objectives:

Curriculum:

Week 1 – Flight Test Overview: Flight Test Engineer R&R, Test Team Organization, Safety, Airworthiness Requirements.

Week 2 – Atmospherics: Standard Atmosphere, Pitot and Pitot-static Systems, Altimetry & Altitude, Aerodynamics, Static Pressure, Temperature, Density, Viscosity, Pressure Altitude, Density Altitude.

Week 3&4 – Aircraft Descriptions and Systems: Flight & Engine Instruments, Flight Controls, Configurations & Characteristics (Aircraft, Wings/Airfoils), Coordinate Systems, Aircraft Systems, Aircraft Weight & Loadings.

Week 5&6 – Aerodynamics – Introduction: Airspeeds: Errors & Calibration (V speeds), Pitot Statics, Operating Limits, Basic Lift Equation (Lift Coefficient, Dynamic Pressure & Surface Area, Stall), Drag Determination, Load factors, V-n Diagram & Aircraft Flight Envelope, Propeller Theory, Two-dimensional Aerodynamics, Three-dimensional Aerodynamics, Determination of Engine Power.

Week 7&8 – Aerodynamics – Flight Test: Aircraft Single-engine Performance, Level Flight Performance, Turning Performance, Takeoff and Landing Theory and Methods, Longitudinal Stability – Static and Dynamic, Lateral-Directional Aerodynamics, Level Flight Performance – Propeller Driven and Jet Aircraft, Range and Endurance, Climb Performance, Lateral Control – Roll Performance, Directional Control, Flying Qualities, Stall Characteristics, Maneuvering Loads, High α, Control of Airspeed & Altitude & AoA, Aircraft Handling Qualities, Flutter.

Week 9&10 – Flight Test Maneuvers: Airspeed Calibration, Symmetrical Maneuvers, Rolling Maneuvers, Yawing Maneuvers, Stall, High α, Longitudinal Stability/Trim, Roll Performance, Acceleration-Deceleration, Flutter, Level Turn Performance, Spin Recovery, Sawtooth Climb – Climb Performance, Power Required, Max Performance Climb, Man Performance Landing, Control Pulse – Dynamic Response, Doublet, POPU, Wind-up Turn, Steady Heading Sideslips.

Week 11&12 – Test Planning and Operations: Test Plan Development, Test Card Development, Safety & Risk Management, Weather brief and minimums, Instrumentation / Data Processing (telemetry and data recording, Sensors), Control Room Operations (radio communications, control room, Crew Resource Management, terminology).

Textbooks:
Introduction to Flight Test Engineering, RTO AGARDograph 300, Flight Test Techniques Series – Volume 14, AC/323(SCI-FT3)TP/74
Flight Testing of Fixed-Wing Aircraft, Ralph D. Kimberlin, AIAA Education Series, ISBN-13 978-1563475641, ISBN-10 1563475642

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