Manoeuvrability analysis of modern fighter aircraft

Manoeuvrability in a vertical plane has a great importance in performance assessment of modern fighter aircraft. Multi-dimensional optimization approach for performing some of these manoeuvres e.g. half-loop and split-S is presented in this paper. The problem is formulated and solved as a typical two point boundary value problem (TPBVP). The pay-off function is defined as the minimum time for performing the manoeuvre. The Pontryagin Maximum Principle (PMP) is applied to solve the problem. Some of the results of the simulation performed for the test aircraft PZL I-22 are presented to show effects of different parameters on a half-loop manoeuvre. The computer program worked out based on the proposed methodology be applied to the conceptual design phase, comparison of manoeuvrability properties in the vertical plane for different existing aircraft, to train pilots performing such manoeuvres in flight simulators and finally, to generate the solutions on board to provide the pilot with real-time display projections of trajectory information.