Test Methods Used to Quantify Flight Control Inceptor Selection for a Business Jet Aircraft

摘要

The current paper describes the simulator test campaign developed by the Gulfstream Aerospace engineering design team to generate comparison data used as selection criteria for the Gulfstream GVII flight control inceptor. Data obtained from repeated measures, structured testing in back-to-back Flight Safety International motion-based simulators were analyzed and used to determine pilot performance differences directly attributable to flight control inceptor type. Test results indicated that within two hours of flight time, pilots matched or exceeded their tracking performance using an Active Control Sidestick as compared to a conventional control yoke, while improving recovery time from upset or unusual attitudes.