NTL Record

Title B-747 Vortex Alleviation Flight Tests : Ground-Based Sensor Measurements and Addendum
Record ID 42179
Personal Name
Creator
Burnham, D. C.
Source 188p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
Publisher United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration
Publication Date 19820101
Language English
Abstract In 1979, a series of B-747 flight tests were carried out to study the wake-vortex alleviation produced by deploying spoilers in the landing configuration. The alleviation achieved was examined by encounters of probe aircraft and by velocity profile measurements made by a ground-based Laser Doppler Velocimeter. For the first time these two types of measurements were analyzed in a way which allowed direct comparison; they showed reasonable agreement. The velocimeter measurements can be used to evaluate the vortex-induced rolling moment on any following aircraft at any separation. The spoiler alleviation was found to be insufficient to assure safe landings of small aircraft at reduced separation behind the B-747. The persistence of the alleviated vortices appears to be due to the wing-tip vortices which dominate the roll-up of the spoiler-alleviated wake. The addition of rapid roll inputs to the spoiler deployment produced much more effective alleviation, but at the expense of an unacceptable ride quality in the generating aircraft.
Public Note Summary, Introduction, Test description, Data analysis, Results, Recommendations, References, Appendix
Rosap ID dot:9405
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/9405
TRT Terms Wakes; Vortices; Flight tests; Laser doppler velocimeters; Takeoff; Landing
General Subjects Aircraft wake vortices; Vortex alleviation; Laser doppler velocimeter; Vortex decay; Takeoffs; Landings; Vortex generators
Classification NTL - AVIATION - Air Traffic Control;
NTL - AVIATION - Aviation Energy and Environment
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Report Number DOT-TSC-FAA-81-19; FAA-RD-81-99
Availability Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Center
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/42000/42100/42179/DOT-TSC-FAA-81-19.pdf
Alternative URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/42000/42100/42179/DOT-VNTSC-FAA-81-19_addendum.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository