GFC Team Agreement - CAFE Foundation

Appendix C:
Required Basic Handling Qualities Evaluation
derived from MIL-STD-1797A and FAA AC 90-89A
The following evaluation must be completed and its documentation submitted to
CAFE prior to May 30, 2011 or TEAM will be disqualified from the CGFC. These
basic aircraft handling qualities criteria were chosen by the CAFE Foundation because of
their crucial role in helping ensure that an aircraft is safe. They comprise the core items
of interest on new prototype experimental aircraft. Since loss of control is the major
factor in small aircraft fatalities, these criteria are focused on controllability and stability.
These basic handling qualities tasks must be performed at Competition Weight and
documented to video by the TEAM's designated pilots, who must be either credentialed
professional test pilots or test pilots whose experience and qualifications are acceptable to
CAFE in accordance with the information below.
The 7 Basic Handling Qualities tasks to be evaluated in the CGFC are:
1. Takeoff and landing characteristics, including glide-path control during flight at
speeds both above Vx and below Vx.
2. Pre-stall characteristics at Vso + 5 kts
3. Aerial agility (pitch, roll and yaw) at Va and 1.3 Vso
4. Directional stability at Va and 1.3 Vso
5. Static longitudinal stability at Va, stick-fixed
6. Maneuvering stability (lb/g) at Va
7. Braking effectiveness/adequacy
Each of the 7 tasks listed above will be assigned the following criteria:
a. an aggressiveness and technique with which it should be executed
b. a goal or goals to be accomplished/demonstrated, including an acceptable
workload and level of performance to accomplish the goal.
o transient (lag/oversteer) and steady-state responses to the test pilot’s
commanded tasks must also provide acceptable control power without PIO
tendency.
c. Failure to demonstrate acceptable performance in any three or more subcomponent
goals from the total of those found under the 7 listed tasks will
constitute disqualification from the CGFC.
Each goal will be evaluated, recorded and commented upon by at least two test
pilots for each vehicle. All Handling Qualities Flights should be flown at near midc.g.
Documentation of Handling Qualities Evaluation of CHALLENGE vehicle will
be by time-stamped photographs of the aircraft’s external features and test-pilot
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