Zero-Gravity Maneuver Instruments and Instrumentation

Item

Title
Zero-Gravity Maneuver Instruments and Instrumentation
Date
1966
Index Abstract
Not Available
Photo Quality
Complete
Report Number
AMRL TR 66-1
Creator
Dixon, B. C.
Corporate Author
Lear Siegler Service, Inc.
Laboratory
Aerospace Medical Research Laboratories
Extent
58
Identifier
AD0635066
Access Rights
Distribution of this document is unlimited
Distribution Classification
1
Contract
AF 33(657)-11107
DoD Project
7184
DoD Task
718405
DTIC Record Exists
No
Distribution Change Authority Correspondence
None
Abstract
The type ARU-2B/A Attitude Director Indicator (ADI) system was evaluated as a pilot aid in flying a JC-131B aircraft on a ballistic trajectory to produce a zero- or reduced-gravity field. To provide an unburdened display to the pilot, all information necessary to fly a complete zero-G maneuver was presented on the ADI, except airspeed. A Parabola Control Panel was designed to provide six modes of presenting normal acceleration data to the ADI; i.e., zero-G, sub-G, super-G, decay, float, and program modes. The modes were effective, except for the float and program modes which are still experimental. Data from 385 maneuvers at various gravity levels from 0 G to 0.75 G revealed that when flying gravity levels below 0.25G an accuracy of =0.05G could be maintained. This is generally considered an acceptable parabola. However, when flying gravity levels greater than 0.25G the errors became greater than +0.05G. As the desired gravity level is increased, the parabola time is increased and a high degree of accuracy is more difficult to maintain. In addition, the system errors were greater at the higher gravity levels. These two facts account for most of the errors at increased sub-gravity levels. The ARU-2B ADI system proved to be an effective aid in flying various sub-G, super-G, zero-G, and decay maneuvers.
Report Availability
Full text available
Date Issued
1966-02
Provenance
RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Type
report
Format
1 online resource
Media
AMRLTR66-001.pdf