A Flight Test Evaluation of the Arc Segment Attitude Reference for Use as a Primary Flight Reference in Helmet-Mounted Displays

Abstract

The objective of this evaluation was to determine if the use of the Arc Segment Attitude Reference (ASAR) symbology in a head-up display (HUD) in place of the legacy climb-dive ladder attitude reference aids in unusual attitude recovery (UAR) piloting tasks as specified in AFM 11–217 for use as a primary flight reference (PFR). Flight tests were conducted at the US Air Force Test Pilot School (TPS), Edwards AFB, California on the NF-16D Variable-stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA). Five VISTA flight UAR test sorties were flown. The time for the pilot to initiate a recovery was measured in addition to the correctness of the recovery. The flight tests were conducted with the use of the HUD combiner on VISTA to examine three symbology configurations. Each of the symbology configurations, the Mil-Std-1787C HUD, dual-articulated (DA) HUD, and ASAR HUD were evaluated by five pilots for the UAR task. The flight test results revealed the ASAR resulted in faster stick input for correction of UARs then the Mil-Std-1787C HUD. This study along with other supporting research indicates that the configural design properties of the ASAR support the ability of pilots to quickly ascertain aircraft attitude.