Comanche Flight Test Simulation Station Development, Verification, and Validation Methodology

The U.S. Army Aviation Technical Test Center (ATTC) is currently developing the Flight Test Simulation Station (FTSS) to contribute to airworthiness qualification flight testing of the RAH-66 Comanche helicopter. The current FTSS implements a GenHel-based blade element flight dynamics model and is integrated into Sikorsky’s Development Flight Center facility. Comanche flight test data can be readily accessed and has been coupled with user-oriented interfaces to allow the model to be driven by flight test control position time histories. Additional interfaces facilitate the comparison of flight test and simulation-generated data, allowing a thorough validation to be conducted. FTSS will also include a FLIGHTLAB-based Comanche model that will take advantage of utilities with the potential to improve model fidelity. ATTC is conducting a tailored verification process of all FTSS-associated software. The FTSS validation will then incorporate a comparison of performance, stability and control, and frequency domain measures. The validation will also examine the correlation of simulation output to aircraft component test data, focusing on engine, rotor, and FANTAIL™ metrics.