4.2 Gathering Flight Test Data

Overview

In the previous sections we explained that we are going to generate our own performance data by doing some really basic flight tests. The idea is to gather data for these profiles:

1. climb

2. cruise

3. descent

4. holding

 And to do it for three aircraft weights:

1. heavy (174,000 lbs)

2. medium (173,000 lbs)

3. light (100,000 lbs)

Plus one bonus test: gather fuel consumption data for taxiing with APU on. 

So we will perform a total of ( 4 x 3 ) + 1 =  13 tests.

Testing Details

• For these tests, we are looking to establish:

  • • fuel consumption rates (lb/hr)

    • true airspeeds (KTAS)

    • climb and descent rates (ft/min) 

• Although these values depend on many parameters, we are simplifying by only varying the aircraft weight. 

  • • We will not repeat the tests for varied atmospheric conditions like pressure and temperature

    • We will set the aircraft weight by setting a fuel and payload combination at the flight creation step that gives the desired total weight 

    • We will not consider CG position

• The climb tests will be flown from 5,000 ft MSL up to 30,000 ft MSL

• The descent tests will be flown from 30,000 ft down to 5,000 ft MSL 

• We will fly the profiles that were established in the requirements section, repeated here for a reminder:

• Climb profile: fixed power setting 98% N1; 240 KIAS below 10,000 ft MSL, 280 KIAS above 10,000 ft MSL 

• Cruise profile: 30,000 ft MSL, 300 KIAS

• Descent profile: fixed power setting 35% N1; 280 KIAS above 10,000 ft MSL,  240 KIAS below 10,000 ft 

• We will add one new profile: hold profile: 5,000 ft MSL, 200 KIAS