Some Examples of Pilot/Vehicle Dynamics Identified from Flight Test Records

TLDR: This communication illustrates a simple technique for identifying the pilot/vehicle describing functions from routine flight test records and provides a straightforward method of analyzing and comparing the dynamics of closed-loop attitude control tasks from actual flight test operations.

Abstract: This communication illustrates a simple technique for identifying the pilot/vehicle describing functions from routine flight test records. This technique provides a straightforward method of analyzing and comparing the dynamics of closed-loop attitude control tasks from actual flight test operations. Some results from the Gemini and X-15 flight test records tend to confirm previous findings that the pilot tries to adjust his dynamics such that the combined pilot/vehicle describing function can be described by a simple crossover model.