Flight Path Control for the Approach and Landing of the Quiet STOL Experimental Aircraft ASKA

The Upper Surface Blowing STOL experimental aircraft ASKA, was developed and flight tested by the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan. The ASKA operated well on the backside of the drag curve, and because of this flight path control was accomplished with the throttle lever (thrust) during approach and landing. To compensate for the sluggish flight path response caused by the thrust response lag, the flight path control law put in stability and control augmentation system. Flight tests were conducted to evaluate flight path and airspeed response characteristics. This paper describes ASKA's flight path and airspeed response characteristics, as well as construction of the flight path control system.