Control of the F-14 Aircraft Lateral-Directional Axis during Powered Approach

Abstract

The design of linear controllers for the F-14 aircraft lateral-directional axis during powered approach using the structured singular-value (μ) framework is presented. Controllers are designed for an angle of attack of 10.5 deg and an airspeed of 137 kn, the on-speed flight condition. Each controller is implemented in a simplified nonlinear simulation and the full-order Fortran nonlinear simulation of the F-14. Pilot-in-the-loop simulations are used to verify their performance in the crewed flight simulator at the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center, Patuxent River, Maryland. The μ controllers out perform the current analog and newly developed digital lateral-directional powered approach flight control system in pilot-in-the-loop simulations.