DEVELOPMENT OF REAL-TIME DATA MONITORING AND ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES IN THE FLIGHT TEST ENVIRONMENT

Since the mid 1980s, British Aerospace's Military Aircraft Division ha s been committed to the concept of real time data monitoring and analy sis in the flight test environment as a prime means of improving effec tiveness. This paper presents an overview of the aerodynamic aspects o f flight testing, the area which was chosen for the proof of concept p hase and was utilized extensively on the experimental aircraft program me. The techniques developed and methods employed are discussed in mor e detail and examples of the achievements are given. The lessons learn t from the proof of concept phase are reviewed and the implementations of the concept on current major projects are briefly outlined.