Design and piloted simulation of integrated flight/propulsion controls for STOVL aircraft

An integrated flight/propulsion control system has been designed for operation of short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter aircraft over the low-speed, powered-lift flight envelope. The control system employs command modes for attitude, flight path angle, and flight path acceleration during transition, and translational velocity command for hover and vertical landing. In this paper, only the longitudinal modes of control are discussed. Piloted evaluations of the control system have been conducted on Ames Research Center's Vertical Motion Simulator. Results indicate that level 1 flying qualities are achieved during transition and vertical landing over a wide range of wind, atmospheric turbulence, and visibility conditions.