Integrating hardware in simulations is useful in many applications, for example to investigate the performance of an aircraft with the non-ideal response of a physical system. This thesis aims to integrate a flight simulator, JSBSim, with an actuator test rig, FLUMES Iron Bird. Two aircraft models were replicated in JSBSim, a passenger aircraft and a delta winged fighter aircraft. The models were analyzed to ensure proper flight performance in regards to stability. The stability analysis was conducted from both the aerodynamic data provided as well as through state-space theory. The fighter aircraft was unstable in the subsonic region and in need of a flight control system to fly properly. The integration with the test rig was implemented using Simulink S-functions and a real-time target computer ensuring synchronous communication with the actuator test rig. The passenger aircraft was successfully integrated and tested with the actuator test rig. / Att integrera hårdvara med simuleringar är behjälpligt i många situationer, exempelvis för att undersöka hur ett flygplan reagerar med ett icke-idealt svar från ett fysiskt system. I det här examensarbetet är målet att utveckla ett gränssnitt mellan en flygsimulator, JSBSim, och en aktuatortestrigg, FLUMES Iron Bird. Två flygplansmodeller skapades i JSBSim, ett passagerarflygplan och ett stridsflygplan. För att vara säker på flygplansmodellernas prestanda analyserades modellerna med avseende på stabilitet. Stabilitetsanalysen beräknades både utifrån aerodynamisk data såväl som utifrån tillståndsanalys, där både statisk och dynamisks stabilitet inkluderades. Stridsflyget var instabilt i underljudsfart och behöver därför ett styrsystem för att vara flygbart. Integreringen med testriggen utfördes i Simulink med hjälp av S-funktioner och en realtidsdator för att garantera synkronisk kommunikation mellan flygsimulatorn och testriggen. Det modellerade passagerarflygplanet kunde integreras och testas med testriggen.

The thesis investigates the elements of a consistent strategy for favorable acquisition and utilization of Flight Simulation Training Devices (FSTD), thus Full Flight Simulators (FFS) and Flight Training Devices (FTD). The primary purpose is to determine a knowledge-based strategy for the end-user, acquisition professional, aviation firms and institutions. Hence, it could be possible to shed a light for cooperative groups and main institutions of national innovation system involved in entrepreneurial and innovative efforts regarding complex technologies like FSTD. In the sample study, 114 pilots from varied sources were administered a questionnaire and their FFS and FTD perceptions were statistically tested regarding each &ldquo / technology&rsquo / s usefulness&rdquo / in four types of training. Another variable, each &ldquo / technology&rsquo / s ease of operation and use&rdquo / was also tested additionally via agent-based model whether it had any effect on technologies&rsquo / selection processes. It could be inferred that that aviation institutions and firms could acquire and utilize FTD as a complementary to both aircraft and FFS within a range of 30-60% depending upon type of the training. Moreover, FTD could be acquired and utilized as a substitute to FFS for Instrument Flight Training (IFT). The FTD&rsquo / s usefulness for IFT was rated as 67% by the military pilots. The research also asserts that the aviation institutions and firms as well as cooperative groups and organizations could favor the established strategy and policy during their FSTD related efforts at &ldquo / micro and meso-level&rdquo / . The final aim is to create a collaborative medium and a synergy for those agents.

The thesis discusses the basics of flight simulation, systems for flight data visualization and management of flight data. The aim of the work is designing a system for simulator management, providing a capability for displaying and controlling a current state of simulators, flight and navigation data.

<p dir="ltr">The absence or limited availability of operational statistics at general aviation airports restricts airport managers and operators from assessing comprehensive operational data. The traditional manual compilation of operational statistics is labor-intensive and lacks the depth and accuracy to depict a holistic picture of a general aviation airport’s operations. This research developed a reliable and efficient approach to address the problem by providing a comprehensive and versatile flight status identification framework. </p><p dir="ltr">Leveraging the BlueSky flight simulation module, the research can generate a synthetic flight database to emulate real-world general aviation aircraft’s flight scenarios. Two neural network architectures, namely, an RNN-GAN network and a refined Seq2Seq network, were explored to examine their capability to reconstruct flight trajectories. The Seq2Seq network, which demonstrated better performance, was further employed to estimate the simulated aircraft’s different metrics, such as internal mechanical metrics and flight phase. Additionally, this research undertook an array of diverse tailored evaluation techniques to assess the efficacy of flight status predictions and conducted comparative analyses between various configurations. </p><p dir="ltr">Furthermore, the research concluded by discussing the future development of the framework, emphasizing its potential for generalization across various flight data applications and scenarios. The enhanced methodology for collecting operational statistics and the analysis tool will enable airport managers and regulators to better receive a comprehensive view of the airport’s operations, facilitating airport planning and development.</p>

A handling quality investigation was performed on the swept gull-wing configuration. The swept gull-wing configuration is tailless and has a wing with a transition in the sweep and dihedral angle. An example of this type of aircraft is the Exulans. This aircraft is currently under development at the University of Pretoria. The handling quality study was focussed on pitch axis dynamics. The Exulans is a research testbed that will be used to investigate the swept gull-wing configuration and its special controls by means of full-scale flight testing. Variable wing sweep, twisting elevons and winglets will be investigated as means of control. These control devices are configured in such a way as to have minimum impact on the performance of the aircraft. The handling qualities of the swept gull-wing configuration have to be acceptable while using these different control strategies. The study was launched to investigate whether a gull-wing configuration aircraft will have satisfactory handling qualities at CG positions associated with the most favourable aerodynamic performance. There is an aerodynamic performance gain in designing an aircraft so that the CG falls on the so-called `E-point'. The E-point is the centre of pressure for an elliptical circulation distribution. An elliptical circulation distribution is associated with the highest Oswald efficiency for an aircraft. Time domain simulation techniques and frequency domain analysis techniques were used to analyse the handling qualities of the gull-wing configuration. The C-star criterion was used to analyse handling qualities with time domain simulation data as input. Comparative time domain simulations were performed between the Exulans and other aircraft to compare handling qualities. Eigenvalue analysis was used together with the thumbprint criterion to investigate inherent gull-wing airframe dynamics. The Shomber-Gertsen and Military Specification 8785 criteria were also used for the same purpose. The Neal-Smith method was used to investigate the effect of control authority on handling qualities and the effect of a pilot. The Monnich and Dalldorff criterion was used to evaluate gust handling qualities. An analysis chart by Fremaux and Vairo was used to evaluate the tumbling susceptibility of the gull-wing configuration. The pitch handling quality investigation shows sufficient promise that the swept gull-wing configuration will have acceptable handling qualities with the CG placed at positions associated with optimised aerodynamic performance. Analysis showed that the swept gull-wing configuration is potentially prone to tumbling. With low static margins, the configuration should exhibit improved handling qualities in gusty conditions when compared to existing tailless aircraft. It is recommended that a lateral handling quality study be performed before full scale flight testing commences on the Exulans. In addition, the possibility of wingtip stall must be investigated for the case of the swept gull-wing configuration. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering / unrestricted

Diplomová práce shrnuje nejdůležitější informace o letectví, jako například základní používané termíny, popis letových fází apod. V této práci je popsán flight management system, jeho funkce a schopnosti vytvořit cenově příznivý a současně absolutně spolehlivý letový plán. V další části práce je nastíněna důležitost předpovědi počasí pro bezpečnou a současně cenově příznivou leteckou dopravu. Tato práce je vytvořena v programu Matlab a všechny bloky jsou naprogramovány jako m-funkce. Důležité části kódu jsou z důvodu názornosti zobrazeny jako vývojové diagramy. Praktická část práce je rozdělena do několika podkapitol, kde každá podkapitola popisuje jeden blok z blokového schématu pro výpočet nejistoty odhadované doby příletu. Současně je zde vysvětlena funkce ostatních bloků pro plánování letu, předpověď počasí, kombinování větrů a výpočet odhadnuté doby příletu a její nejistoty.