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Severe Turbulence and Maneuvering from Airline Flight RecordsDigital flight records from reported clear-air turbulence incidents are used to determine winds and turbulence, to determine maneuver g loads, and to analyze control problems. Many cases of severe turbulence are found downwind of mountains and thunderstorms where sharp, sudden jolts are associated with vortices in atmospheric waves. Other cases of severe turbulence are round in strong updrafts above thunderstorm buildups that may be undetected by onboard weather radar. An important finding is that there are large maneuvering loads in over half of the reported clear-air turbulence incidents. Maneuvering loads are determined through an analysis of the short-term variations in elevator deflection and aircraft pitch angle. For altitude control in mountain waves the results indicate that small pitch angle changes with proper timing are sufficient to counter variations in vertical wind. For airspeed control in strong mountain waves, however, there is neither the available thrust nor the quickness in engine response necessary to counter the large variations in winds.
Document ID
19970012379
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Wingrove, Rodney C.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Bach, R. E., Jr.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Aircraft
Publisher: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.
Volume: 31
Issue: 4
Subject Category
Aerodynamics
Report/Patent Number
NASA-TM-111780
NAS 1.15:111780
AIAA Paper 92-4341
Meeting Information
Meeting: Atmospheric Flight Mechanics
Location: Hilton Head, SC
Country: United States
Start Date: August 10, 1992
End Date: August 12, 1992
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Accession Number
97N70971
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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