Book Description

A test and analysis method is presented for determining airplane lateral stability characteristics, including aerodynamic derivatives, from flight tests of scale models. The method of analysis utilizes the rotating time-vector concept and also a quasi-static approach. Data are presented at transonic speeds for three swept-wing rocket-propelled models differing only in vertical position and dihedral of the wing. The method proved to be adequate for delineating the major effects of the geometric variations on the aerodynamic lateral stability derivatives. The effects of Reynolds number on the linearity of the static stability data for an unswept wing configuration are illustrated.