EFFECT OF UNSTABLE MODERN FIGHTER AIRCRAFT DESIGN ON MASS CONTROL (AN EXAMPLE OF THE EUROFIGHTER AIRCRAFT)

摘要

Modern fighter aircraft are designed aerodynamically unstable. Such aircraft cannot be flown manually, but require a computerized Flight Control System. In order to stabilize the aircraft, the Flight Control System needs aircraft mass property data. With increasing degree of instability, the requirements on the accuracy of the input data increase. Ultimately this leads to the situation that changes to aircraft build standards must be controlled, requiring qualified personnel. Therefore, this in-service monitoring task is a new field of work for mass engineers. It is believed that this statement is not uniquely applicable to the Eurofighter Typhoon, but to all other highly unstable aircraft.