THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE LATERAL CONTROL POWER FOR LANDING APPROACH CONDITIONS

Several recent high-performance airplanes have exhibited marginal or insufficient lateral control power under landing approach conditions, particularly in the presence of atmospheric turbulence or crosswinds. In some cases pilot opinion ratings of airplane lateral control power have not been consistent with measured airplane rolling performance expressed in terms of specification parameters. An investigation at the Naval Air Test Center has attempted to correlate the measured rolling performance of both large and small airplanes in the landing approach condition with pilot opinion regarding adequacy of lateral control power to pick up a wing or to maintain the desired flight path in the presence of turbulence or crosswinds. This report describes the NATC investigation and tentative flight test results obtained, in relation to current flying qualities specification requirements. Bank angle changes at the end of one second of 20 degrees for carrierbased airplanes and 8 degrees for land-based airplanes are suggested as criteria for lateral control power in the landing approach condition. (Author)