Automatic formation turns

Details Automatic formation turns Automatic formation turns

1985-10-17

1987-06-23

Peters, Jr., Joseph F.

Aeronautics and astronautics

Aircraft control

Automatic

244 3, B64C 1320

Patent

active

046747109

ABSTRACT:
A method for coordinated turning of a formation of aircraft flying at air speed V, the formation characterized by respective rearward displacement D.sub.S and lateral displacement D.sub.R of each follower aircraft in formtion from a leader aircraft relative to a formation line of flight, is described which comprises the steps of rolling the leader into the turn at predetermined roll rate for a first time interval t.sub.r to a leader bank angle B.sub.c, maintaining the leader at that bank angle for a second time interval, and rolling the leader out of the turn at the same roll rate for a third time interval equal to the first interval, whereby the leader turns with determinable change in flight direction; and turning the follower in response to the rolling in of the leader by first gradually accelerating or decelerating the follower (depending upon whether on the outside or inside of the turn) to a second air speed from the start of leader roll-in until the earlier of leader roll-out inception and lapse of a time interval of t.sub.r +D.sub.S /V from start of leader roll-in, maintaining the second air speed until start of leader roll-out, and gradually changing the air speed of the follower from the second air speed to that of the leader over a time interval of about t.sub.r +D.sub.S /V from start of leader roll-out, while maintaining level flight from the start of leader roll-in until distance D.sub.S is traversed by the follower; and banking the follower into the turn to a first bank angle while adjacent that portion of the path the leader traversed during leader roll-in, banking the follower into the turn to a second bank angle while adjacent that portion of the path the leader traversed while maintaining bank angle B.sub.c, banking the follower into the turn to a third bank angle while adjacent that portion of the path the leader traversed during leader roll-out, and returning the follower to level flight upon completion of the turn whereby the spacing between the leader and the follower is maintained substantially constant during the turn.

REFERENCES:
patent: 2400400 (1946-05-01), Duer
patent: 3303500 (1967-02-01), Prichodjko et al.
patent: 3863256 (1975-01-01), Smith
patent: 4192002 (1980-03-01), Draper

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