A comparison of two methods of extracting stability derivatives from flight test data

Two methods for extracting stability derivatives from flight data are compared. A modified Newton-Raphson quasilinearization minimization technique and a digital-analog (hybrid) matching technique were used to analyze the same data maneuvers obtained from two aircraft. About 70 maneuvers from an F-111E aircraft were analyzed over a Mach number range of 0.3 to 2.0 and an angle of attack range of 3 to 19 degrees. About 20 maneuvers were analyzed for the X-24A lifting body at Mach numbers of 0.5, 0.8, and 0.9, and an angle of attack range of 4 to 13 degrees. Stability derivatives were extracted from these maneuvers and the results from the two techniques, along with wind tunnel results, were compared.