Development of a simple, self-contained flight test data acquisition system

A low cost flight test data acquisition system, applicable to general aviation airplanes, was developed which meets criteria for doing longitudinal and lateral stability analysis. Th package consists of (1) a microprocessor controller and data acquisition module; (2) a transducer module; and (3) a power supply module. The system is easy to install and occupies space in the cabin or baggage compartment of the airplane. All transducers are contained in these modules except the total pressure tube, static pressure air temperature transducer, and control position transducers. The NASA-developed MMLE program was placed on a microcomputer on which all data reduction is done. The flight testing program undertaken proved both the flight testing hardware and the data reduction method to be applicable to the current field of general aviation airplanes.