by Mike Brooke
The flow chart for the use of the scale is illustrated below. The CHFQRS is used constantly to help test pilots determine whether some sort of change is required to improve or ameliorate difficulties they find in an aircraft’s handling that may affect its safety or its ability to fulfil its in-service role.
Apart from stabilty, control and handling qualities another important aspect of development that a test pilot may be employed in is wrapped up in the term ‘Performance’. This can be anything from fuel consumption, so defining how far the aircraft can fly or remain in the air, to its maximum speed or rate of turn. The latter elements form part of what is known as the ‘Flight Envelope’, as in the rather gung-ho sounding test pilot talk of ‘pushing the envelope’!
In reality all test flights, regardless of their primary objective, allow test pilots to evaluate many things and form opinions as to the utility of the machine or system under test. Although some subjectivity is inevitable the overall aim is to report the results as objectively as possible and supported by scientifically acceptable data. It’s not a case of a test pilot just whizzing round the sky for an hour, landing and declaring, ‘I’ll give it a five. Refuel it and let’s get it into production!’
Appendix B: Cockpit Illustrations
Illustrations from the aircrafts’ Aircrew Manuals and Pilot’s Notes, all courtesy of Mach One Manuals (www.mach-one-manuals.net)
Hawk T1
Buccaneer S2B
Lightning T5
Andover CC2
Devon C1
Jaguar T2
Hunter T7
Hunter F6A
Notes
1 The term aeroplane does not cover helicopters or autogyros, whereas the term aircraft can include these or any other form of craft that flies.
2 For simplicity I have put the stabilising element in its usual position at the rear of the aeroplane. However, there are aircraft that have it at the front end; in this case it is called a Canard. Now seen often on modern fighters, such as the Typhoon and Rafale, it was the original arrangement on the Wright Flyer and other early flying machines.
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First published in 2015
The History Press
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This ebook edition first published in 2015
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© Mike Brooke, 2015
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