Evaluation of Control Inputs on the Spin Recovery of the 8KCAB Super Decathlon Courtney Allen
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Air Force Institute of Technology AFIT Scholar Theses and Dissertations Student Graduate Works 9-17-2015 Evaluation of Control Inputs on the Spin Recovery of the 8KCAB Super Decathlon Courtney Allen Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.afit.edu/etd Part of the Aviation Commons Recommended Citation Allen, Courtney, "Evaluation of Control Inputs on the Spin Recovery of the 8KCAB Super Decathlon" (2015). Theses and Dissertations. 228. https://scholar.afit.edu/etd/228 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Graduate Works at AFIT Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of AFIT Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EVALUATION OF CONTROL INPUTS ON THE SPIN RECOVERY OF THE 8KCAB SUPER DECATHLON THESIS Courtney Allen, Civilian AFIT-ENV-MS-15-S-035 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE AIR UNIVERSITY AIR FORCE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Air Force, Department of Defense, or the United States Government. This material is declared a work of the United States Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States. AFIT-ENV-MS-15-S-035 EVALUATION OF CONTROL INPUTS ON THE SPIN RECOVERY OF THE 8KCAB SUPER DECATHLON THESIS Presented to the Faculty Department of Systems Engineering and Management Graduate School of Engineering and Management Air Force Institute of Technology Air University Air Education and Training Command In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Systems Engineering Courtney Allen, Civilian September 2015 DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. AFIT-ENV-MS-15-S-035 EVALUATION OF CONTROL INPUTS ON THE SPIN RECOVERY OF THE 8KCAB SUPER DECATHLON Courtney Allen, Civilian Committee Membership: John M. Colombi, Ph.D. Chair Lt Col Jeffrey C. Parr, USAF, Ph.D. Member John J. Elshaw, Ph.D. Member AFIT-ENV-MS-15-S-035 Abstract The current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) response to stall/spin related accidents is prevention through pilot awareness training and encouraging stall proof aircraft design features. Aircraft have an inherent capability to spin. The controls that influence spin recovery have yet to be quantitatively analyzed in a regression analysis. This thesis presents the regression modeling and validation process for the evaluation of control inputs on the spin recovery of the 8KCAB Super Decathlon. The regression models in this thesis explore the control inputs for factors of: rudder, elevator, and aileron. Additionally, this thesis explores the timing of the control inputs factors for sequenced as well as simultaneous application. The research presented is of interest to general aviation pilot community with limited exposure to spins and variations of spin recovery methods. Aircraft spins have become taboo and avoided by all but the most experienced pilots and researchers. The research here is focused on the evaluation of control inputs on spin recovery qualities. While this research is limited to the 8KCAB super decathlon type aircraft, the aircraft is a good representation of the general aviation community. iv AFIT-ENV-MS-15-S-035 To my loyal bulldog Winston, who flight after flight watched me taxi out and anxiously waited in anticipation to watch me taxi back. v Acknowledgments The inspiration for this work was provided by one of my personal heroes, Otto Lilienthal. His words and life provide me with the greatest of inspiration. After conducting the research found within this paper; I understand why the air inspires confidence, why sacrifices must be made, and why flying is everything. Thank you for all that you have given to aviation world. I can only hope that this work may inspire a new generation of test pilots and flight test engineers. To invent an airplane is nothing. To build one is something. But to fly is everything. (Otto Lilienthal) Court vi Table of Contents Page Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................. vi Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. vii List of Figures .................................................................................................................... ix List of Tables ................................................................................................................... xiii List of Equations .............................................................................................................. xvi I. Introduction .....................................................................................................................1 Background .....................................................................................................................1 Problem Statement ..........................................................................................................2 Research Objectives/Questions .......................................................................................2 Hypotheses ......................................................................................................................3 Methodology Overview ..................................................................................................4 Limitations ......................................................................................................................4 Implications .....................................................................................................................5 Preview ............................................................................................................................5 II. Literature Review ...........................................................................................................6 Chapter Overview ...........................................................................................................6 Spin Background .............................................................................................................6 Spins ................................................................................................................................9 Spin Entry Phase ..................................................................................................... 10 Incipient Spin Phase ................................................................................................ 10 Developed Spin Phase ............................................................................................. 11 Spin Recovery Phase ............................................................................................... 12 Recovery Methods ........................................................................................................13 Manufacturer-Prescribed Recovery Controls ......................................................... 13 PARE Method .......................................................................................................... 15 Mueller-Beggs Method ............................................................................................ 18 Summary .......................................................................................................................20 III. Methodology ...............................................................................................................21 Chapter Overview .........................................................................................................21 Flight Tests ....................................................................................................................21 Test Article .............................................................................................................. 22 Test Procedure ........................................................................................................ 23 Measurements .......................................................................................................... 25 Factors .................................................................................................................... 27 Control Input Timing ............................................................................................... 29 Response .................................................................................................................. 30 vii Historical Data ........................................................................................................ 31 Design of Experiments ..................................................................................................33 Translation of Coded Factors ................................................................................. 33 Blocking ................................................................................................................... 35 Model Data .............................................................................................................. 35 Model Selection ......................................................................................................