Identification of DO-328 aerodynamic database for a Level D flight simulator

Abstract

Applying system identification methodology, a database for a high performance propeller aircraft of the type Dornier DO-328 with reversible flight controls was identified from flight data. The identified database including both rigid body aerodynamics and hinge moments caters to the stringent accuracy requirements of the Level D flight simulator for this transport aircraft. This paper provides an overview of the various aspects of database generation, emphasizing on the rigid-body aerodynamics. Some aspects of hinge moment modeling are also presented. The challenges encountered in development of the database are briefly brought out. The propeller effects and those at extreme flight conditions such as large steady sideslip and high angle of attack regimes including separated flow conditions of stall hysteresis on the rigid-body aerodynamics are demonstrated. As typical validation examples, the high activity tasks such as normal and crosswind landing as well as critical engine failure on takeoff are addressed. In all of these cases the end-to-end fidelity of the flight identified database has been ascertained through a comparison of the flight measured aircraft response with that predicted by an integrated model driven through force inputs.