22nd Congress of International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, Harrogate, UK, 28 August - 1st September, 2000
Paper ICAS 2000-6.6.R2

ON-LINE SIMULATION AS A MEASURE TO INCREASE SAFETY IN FLIGHT-TESTING OF HIGH PERFORMANCE AIRCRAFT

H. C. Oelker (1), Thomas Meyer (2)
(1) DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (2) Military Aircraft Division

Keywords: safety, on-line testing

Testing of modern high performance aircraft is performed in an environment that includes a considerable amount of modelling and simulation. An initial flight clearance is given based on the outcome of comprehensive pre-flight investigations. During flight test then the initial envelope is explored cautiously towards the given limitations. The model is validated with flight test analysis results. Depending on the outcome of these validations a refinement of the clearance will be required. At DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (DASA) this envelope expansion process is being supported by “Parallel Simulation”. It is made up in such a manner that a non-linear simulation model is operated simultaneously while the test aircraft is up in the air flying. Immediately before execution of a particular manoeuvre the simulation model is set up in a way that it is driven solely by pilot’s inputs via telemetry. Flight mechanical equations for estimation of an aircraft’s new state are being integrated independently. Thus this process provides a comparison of traces of aircraft state variables (calculated versus measured) in real-time. Results illustrate how this tool is being used. The tool mainly proves that the model qualitatively represents the real aircraft. For certain investigations also quantitative agreement can be achieved.

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