30-03-2012, 01:06 PM
AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE FLIGHT SIMULATION LAB
airraft design.pdf (Size: 71.5 KB / Downloads: 28)
Discussion
In this lab exercise, you will use Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000/2002 to become more familiar with aircraft control and performance. Also, you will use the flight simulator to collect aircraft performance data just as it is done for a real aircraft. From your data you will be able to deduce performance parameters such as the parasite drag coefficient and L/D ratio.
Introduction and Use of the Flight Simulator
Spend time using Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000/2002 to learn to take off and fly an aircraft.
We suggest that you use a simple single engine aircraft model (i.e., Cessna 182) since they are
simpler and more stable than some of the other aircraft. Use the on-line tutorial as needed to
help you learn what the basic controls and instruments are, and how to operate the aircraft in a
stable way.
Airspeed and Vertical Speed Performance in a Steady Glide
We will focus on collecting performance data from an aircraft in a steady glide. We will use a
Schweizer 2-32 glider rather than a powered aircraft, which simplifies some of the calculations.
You will put the glider into a series of steady flight conditions and record speed and vertical
speed (descent rate). Using these data, you will build a plot that describes how these parameters
are related, and then you will be able to compute some of the critical aerodynamic performance
parameters, such as parasite drag coefficient and L/D ratio.
Definitions
Pitch angle (θ): angle from horizon to aircraft x-body axis (line passing through the plane’s nose)
Flight path angle (γ): angle from the horizon to the aircraft’s velocity vector
Angle of attack (α): angle from the aircraft’s x-body axis to the velocity vector
True airspeed (v)