A Model-Based Approach to Aircraft Performance Assessment

摘要

This paper describes the development of a software tool, called MAPET, for aircraft performance assessment using a 6-DOF high fidelity model. The modular structure allows adaptation to different aircraft models. The results are presented for two different models; namely a generic model of a future military transport aircraft and the DLR VFW614/ATTAS research aircraft model. The flight performance evaluation results in parameters related to: 1) Level flight like endurance and range 2) Climb and descent like maximum climb angles, rates of climb, range in climb/descent and 3) Level turn like maximum load factor, angular rate and minimum turn radius. Based on these results MAPET provides the calculation of the optimal cruise flight path including range for a given constant speed or altitude and fuel mass. For different aircraft loading conditions the range calculation is used to generate a Payload-Range diagram. The advantage of the presented approach to obtain aircraft performance data is its wide variability. This capability is illustrated with typical examples showing how configuration changes like one engine inoperative(OEI) or landing gear extended affect aircraft flight performance. Flight tests with the VFW614/ATTAS research aircraft were performed in order to verify the performance data predicted by MAPET with the ones obtained from flight test measurements. The comparison of both datasets shows a very good matching.