Simulation in Support of Flight Testing(la Simulation pour le soutien des essais en vol)

摘要

Flight testing continues to remain an essential step in the development or modification of an aircraft. Modem fixed wing aircraft are highly complex systems that push the edges of aerodynamic, propulsion, and control system technologies. Many of these technologies are integrated together and dependent upon each other. Certainly, modem military aircraft ranging from the F-22 to the EF2OOO push the boundaries of capabilities that can be built into an aircraft. Commercial transportation such as Airbus's A3 10 and Boeing's 777 incorporate many aircraft advances that were first used in military airplanes. The ever-increasing complexity of the aircraft presents new challenges to those who are involved in the flight testing of those vehicles. For over 40 years simulation has played a key role in flight testing. As the aircraft continue to evolve in complexity, the role of simulation continues to grow. Every major aircraft developer, whether they are commercial or military, depends on the use of simulation to some degree. The application of these simulations to flight testing is an important aspect of the aircraft's development. Each year, dozens of symposium and conferences are held around the world to discuss simulation and its uses. As computer technology continues to evolve at an accelerating pace, the field of simulation continues to expand with it. Unfortunately, very little has been written to document how simulation can be effectively used to support flight testing.