Limiting of Aircraft Speed by Automatic Engine Thrust Control

摘要

Four systems which vary engine power as airplane speed changes were studied. Three of the systems use a variable pitch propeller with manual control and a governor which maintains constant rpm by controlling throttle position. With the variable pitch propeller set at a fixed pitch, the power required to maintain constant rpm varies as air speed changes, thus the governor automatically changes power as air speed varies. The fourth system uses a conventional constant speed propeller and an air speed sensor system controls the engine throttle. All four systems, when compared to the conventional constant speed propeller - manual throttle system, will automatically limit speed build up in a dive. The systems automatically reduce power when air speed increases, thus much steeper dive angle and rate of descent is automatically allowed for the same forward speed. All four systems can be used for automatic power control in normal flying conditions. (Author)