Pitch handling qualities investigation of the tailless gull-wing configuration

Abstract

A handling quality analysis of the tailless swept gull-wing configuration is presented here. This aircraft configuration is defined, for the purpose of this discussion, as one having multiple sweep and dihedral angles. The effects of changes in the static margin and of gusts on handling qualities were investigated for this new configuration. The Exulans, an aircraft currently under development, was used as a representative example of a tailless swept gullwing configuration. The Exulans uses variable outboard wing sweep as a means of static margin control. This is achieved by a sweep hinge located at semispan. The pilot can change the outboard wing sweep angle for purposes of pitch trim. The Exulans is a research test bed that is being used to investigate the possibility of designing a tailless aircraft with both good handling qualities and a high Oswald efficiency. The handling qualities investigation was limited to the longitudinal plane. A Neal–Smith handling quality analysis was used to investigate handling qualities at different static margins, and a Mönnich–Dalldorff analysis was used to investigate gust handling qualities. Time domain simulations were also used to investigate the aircraft gust response. It is shown that the gull-wing configuration promises to have satisfactory handling qualities for a region of center of gravity locations, for which good Oswald efficiency can also be achieved. A satisfactory gust response can also be achieved.