Automatic gust compensation for GA aircraft

Mahesh · June 27th, 2004, 20:42

I found out something interesting today. I have known for a while that NASA has been looking into the possibility of automatic handeling of wind gusts for light aircraft.

My dad, who is a researcher at NASA, has just started some preliminary simulation work for the project! he said at this point, it is just a feasibility study. I think the idea is to have a computer make control surface adjustments to right the aircraft faster than a pilot could.

Mahesh

tonyw · June 27th, 2004, 20:45

I'd be all for that. You should have seen my, uh, arrival yesterday. The wind went from a half windsock of right headwind to a full windsock of left crosswind. Definitely an oh, poop moment!

Mahesh · June 27th, 2004, 20:56

I think it would definitely be good. I almost became part of a smoldeing hole in the ground a few months ago when I hit low level windshear and the 172 rolled to the left immeditely after I took off. It freaked me out so much that I had to hang out near the airport and circle around for a few minutes to become calm before I continued to my destination.

Mahesh

Minuteman · June 27th, 2004, 21:51

Awww, shucks. I hope you can turn it off ... ROCK'N'ROLL FOREVER!!

There is a little bit of inherent lateral stability thanks to dihedral and the vertical placement of the wing in relation to the CG.

June 27th, 2004, 20:42	#1
Mahesh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Northern Hemisphere Posts: 1,340	Automatic gust compensation for GA aircraft I found out something interesting today. I have known for a while that NASA has been looking into the possibility of automatic handeling of wind gusts for light aircraft. My dad, who is a researcher at NASA, has just started some preliminary simulation work for the project! he said at this point, it is just a feasibility study. I think the idea is to have a computer make control surface adjustments to right the aircraft faster than a pilot could. Mahesh

June 27th, 2004, 20:45	#2
tonyw Old Skool Join Date: May 2002 Location: Maryland Posts: 15,619	Re: Automatic gust compensation for GA aircraft I'd be all for that. You should have seen my, uh, arrival yesterday. The wind went from a half windsock of right headwind to a full windsock of left crosswind. Definitely an oh, poop moment!

June 27th, 2004, 20:56	#3
Mahesh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Northern Hemisphere Posts: 1,340	Re: Automatic gust compensation for GA aircraft I think it would definitely be good. I almost became part of a smoldeing hole in the ground a few months ago when I hit low level windshear and the 172 rolled to the left immeditely after I took off. It freaked me out so much that I had to hang out near the airport and circle around for a few minutes to become calm before I continued to my destination. Mahesh

June 27th, 2004, 21:51	#4
Minuteman Old Skool Join Date: May 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,523 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Automatic gust compensation for GA aircraft Awww, shucks. I hope you can turn it off ... ROCK'N'ROLL FOREVER!! There is a little bit of inherent lateral stability thanks to dihedral and the vertical placement of the wing in relation to the CG.

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