Evaluation of A400M Flight Tests Requests for Flight Loads and Handling Qualities

Abstract

Within the framework of Lufo IV-2 Verbundvorhabens FTEG (Flight physics technologies for green aircraft), DLR Institute of Flight Systems (DLR-FT) participates in the project InnoLA (Innovation für eine effiziente Simulations- und Versuchsprozesskette für Lasten und Aeroelastik) to support the Airbus, Loads Department at Hamburg in some of the activities related to modelling and parameter identification of unconventional aircraft such as A400M. The major tasks to be covered by DLR-FT pertain to: 1) Flight tests identification, 2) Investigation of propeller effects, 3)Validation of Airbus identification tools and 4) Identification of aerodynamic Model. Common to these varius sub-topics, the first task is to evaluate the hitherto FTR (Flight Test Requests) generated by Airbus for flight loads (FL) and handling qualities (HQ) investigations.The purpose of this study is mainly twofold: 1) Provide inputs for harmonization of FTR for FL and HQ, leading to optimization of flight tests program and 2) Ensure that adequate flight manoeuvres are proposed to enable estimation of propeller effects on the longitudinal and lateral-directional motion. The evaluation of FL and HQ manoeuvres (runs) is based on 17 of FTR for FL and 22 for HQ, which were supplied by Airbus, Hamburg and considered relevant for this analysis