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STATIC STABILITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROPOSED B-58 AIRCRAFT ESCAPE CAPSULE AT TRANSONIC MACH NUMBERS
L. E. Rittenhouse, D. Pierce, Willard E Summers
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Abstract
Results are presented from a wind tunnel investigation to ascertain the lateral and longitudinal stability and axial-force characteristics of the crew and pilot escape capsules proposed for the B-58 aircraft. The effect of varying several parachute parameters on parachute drag and capsule aerodynamics is also presented. Furthermore, a comparison of the capsule aerodynamic coefficients obtained with cold air simulation of the rocket exhausts in contrast to rocket motor firings is discussed. The tests were conducted at Mach numbers 0.60, 0.93, and 1.50 at Reynolds numbers ranging from 0.40 to 2.20 million. The test article attitude was varied from -10 to 90 deg in the pitch plane and from -5 to 25 deg in the yaw plane. In general, both capsule configurations were statically unstable in the pitch and yaw planes. Furthermore, when the rocket jet was simulated, the parachute which was attached to the capsule dipped violently in and out of the jet wake.