Analysis of an Air Motion System on a Light Aircraft for Boundary Layer Research

Abstract

A system has been developed for use on a light aircraft for the measurement of the turbulent wind vector components that does not rely on the use of either an inertial navigation system (INS) or Doppler radar. The system described here uses a five-hole probe to measure the wind vector relative to the aircraft. A GPS system, a vertical gyroscope for aircraft pitch and roll angles, a gyrocompass system, and a strap-down three-axis accelerometer system are used to obtain aircraft motion. Flight tests and results of an intercomparison with the United Kingdom Meteorological Office C-130 are presented. Under conditions of straight and level flight, the estimated rms errors are 0.3 m s−1 for the vertical wind component and 2 m s−1 for the horizontal components.