AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF CAMBER-CHANGING FLAPS ON HIGH-PERFORMANCE SAILPLANES

Abstract

The fliglrt tests show that the goals of this development program have been attained. The predeternined tolerances for deviations from optimal conditions have been maintained. In straight flight and in circling, the optimun flight performance is retained. The automatic systen stabilizes the sailplane. Pitch oscillations are damped and the spin behavior becomes more docile. Thus, we believe that this development represents a step in the right direction. Approxinately 150 hours of flight testing have been completed with the automatic systen thus far, all without the slightest trouble. The sone 30 different pilots who have flown with it so far have been convinced, without exception, that extraordinary progress has been rnade towards the optimization of flight performance. First steps have been made to test the autormatic flap systen on other types of sailplanes. Flight tests with wool tufts on the Nimbus II-a high performance open-class sailplane, designed by Klaus Holighaus/Schempp-Hirth- and on the PIK 20-high performance standard class sailplane from Finland have been perfomed. Tests with the 19m-and 17m-Kestrel (from Glasflugel) will be made in the near future. Soon a more conpact and 'long living' hydraulic systen will be available and also a modified electronic controller, which rnakes it easier to adapt the systern to different characteristics of other sailplanes.