Flight Testing of Stability Boundary and Dynamic Separation in a University Environment - Invited

Abstract

This paper gives an overview of how flight testing is introduced in a research university setting using nontraditional methods and how it is made available to students at all levels ranging from freshman to doctorate. The recent explosive developments in hardware now allow the involvement of a larger group of students in flight tests affordably in an academic environment. This paper also details the current flight test research activities at graduate level in the areas of dynamic separation during air launching space vehicles, use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) as test beds to test new control algorithms, stability boundary determination of an inflight damaged aircraft, noise reduction via inflight deployable micro devices, and precision landing flight tests. Research tools include ground tests, carefully modeled vehicle flight simulations, and actual flight tests either using small scales or full scales as UAS using free flights or controlled (remote, autonomous, or hybrid) aerial systems. Learning outcomes from the student’s perspective is documented as well as 5 year follow up studies showing the success of these individuals in their professional paths being one of the indicators of the benefits of integrating flight tests into curriculum.