Simulator Evaluation of Flightpath-oriented Control Allocation for the Flying-V

A novel aircraft configuration, the tailless Flying-V, is examined for its longitudinal handling qualities in cruise by means of piloted simulations. The Flying-V is controlled by two aileron/elevator (elevon) surfaces on each side, and rudders on each wingtip. Two control allocation schemes were created: a conventional one where both inboard and outboard elevons deflect in the same direction, and one where the change in lift the elevons generate is countered by deploying the inboard and outboard elevons in opposite directions, allowing more direct control of the resulting flight path. The longitudinal handling qualities in cruise conditions were investigated by pilot opinion in a moving base simulator. Three experiments were conducted: a traditional pitch tracking experiment with the conventional control allocation, and a new flight-path-angle tracking experiment, using both the conventional and the flight-path-oriented control allocation. The pilots indicated the conventional pitch attitude control to have Level 1 handling qualities for the pitch control task, and Level 2 for the flight path control task. The flight-path-oriented control allocation improved the performance of the pilots during the flight-part tracking experiment, but the perceived control authority was considered too small for most pilots to consistently rate it at Level 1.