Development and Flight Test of an Augmented Thrust-Only Flight Control System on an MD-11 Transport Airplane

Burcham Jr., Frank W. and Maine, Trindel A. and Burken, John J. and Pappas, Drew (1996) Development and Flight Test of an Augmented Thrust-Only Flight Control System on an MD-11 Transport Airplane. Technical Report NASA TM-4745, Research Engineering, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.

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Abstract

An emergency flight control system using only engine thrust, called Propulsion-Controlled Aircraft (PCA), has been developed and flight tested on an MD-11 airplane. In this thrust-only control system, pilot flightpath and track commands and aircraft feedback parameters are used to control the throttles. The PCA system was installed on the MD-11 airplane using software modifications to existing computers. Flight test results show that the PCA system can be used to fly to an airport and safely land a transport airplane with an inoperative flight control system. In up-and-away operation, the PCA system served as an acceptable autopilot capable of extended flight over a range of speeds and altitudes. The PCA approaches, go-arounds, and three landings without the use of any normal flight controls have been demonstrated, including instrument landing system-coupled hands-off landings. The PCA operation was used to recover from an upset condition. In addition, PCA was tested at altitude with all three hydraulic systems turned off. This paper reviews the principles of throttles-only flight control; describes the MD-11 airplane and systems; and discusses PCA system development, operation, flight testing, and pilot comments.

EPrint Type:	NASA Technical Memorandum
Keywords:	Emergency flight control, MD-11 airplane, Propulsion-controlled aircraft, Propulsive control, Throttle-only control
Subjects:	Aircraft/Project: MD-11 (01 - 09) Aeronautics: (08) Aircraft Stability And Control
ID Code:	192
Deposited On:	16 July 2004
Additional Information:	28 pages. Presented as AIAA 96-3742, AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, San Diego, California, July 29–31, 1996. F.W. Burcham, Jr., T.A. Maine, and J.J. Burken, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards. California. Pappas, McDonnell Douglas Aerospace, Long Beach, California.