Three-Dimensional, Minimum-Time Flight Paths to a Point and onto a Line for a Supersonic Aircraft with a Maximum Mach Number Constraint

摘要

Optimal control theory and the energy-state approximation are used to determine the thrust, altitude, and bank angle programs for minimum-time flight paths of a supersonic aircraft from an initial energy, heading, and horizontal position to a specified final energy, heading, and point or line in a horizontal plane. Constraints on maximum and minimum thrust, stall angle-of-attack, maximum Mach number, maximum dynamic pressure, and maximum normal load factor are considered. The problem is restricted to those cases in which the flight path is long enough that the maximum Mach number is reached during the flight. Numerical results are presented for a typical supersonic aircraft capable of Mach 2.0 flight. (Author)