Experiment Design and Data Acquisition for V/STOL Flying Qualities Simulations

The purpose of this paper is to outline an approach to the design of flying qualities experiments, to indicate the data that should be collected and to comment on several aspects of flying qualities simulation in variable stability aircraft.

In particular, attention is focused on the need for properly collected pilot rating and pilot comment data, the need for acquiring control usage information with suggestions for the form in which this information should be documented, and the importance of identifying, verifying, and documenting the dynamics characteristics simulated when using variable stability aircraft.