The Missing Link: How to optimize pressure calibration using the tower flyby method

Abstract

The validation of a trailing cone system on a research aircraft using established flight test procedures gave errors which seemed not acceptable for the following calibration experiment. Using new technologies and a detailed analysis of the error sources led to im-proved procedures and measurement strategies. This new approach was tested on different aircrafts and demonstrated a significant reduction of the residual errors. This paper presents the results of a pitot-static calibration for a meteorological research sensor package mounted on the wing of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan. The overall error of the static source calibra-tion was shown to be less than 0.25 hPa for the whole aircraft envelope.