On the Airborne Measurement of Vertical Air Velocity

R. Paul Lawson Colorado International Corporation, Boulder, CO 80303

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Abstract

The basic design requirements and dynamic performance evaluation techniques are discussed for a vertical air velocity system (VAVS) installed on a Learjet. An empirical technique is presented which compensates the measured angle of attack for the effects of upwash. Flight tests of the VAVS indicated dynamic errors on the order of 0.6 m s−1 plus 3–12% of the aircraft induced vertical velocity during maneuvers where horizontal accelerations were <0.2 m s−2. Substantially larger dynamic errors were seen in the VAVS during maneuvers where the horizontal acceleration exceeded about 0.5 m s−2.

Abstract

The basic design requirements and dynamic performance evaluation techniques are discussed for a vertical air velocity system (VAVS) installed on a Learjet. An empirical technique is presented which compensates the measured angle of attack for the effects of upwash. Flight tests of the VAVS indicated dynamic errors on the order of 0.6 m s−1 plus 3–12% of the aircraft induced vertical velocity during maneuvers where horizontal accelerations were <0.2 m s−2. Substantially larger dynamic errors were seen in the VAVS during maneuvers where the horizontal acceleration exceeded about 0.5 m s−2.

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