Airplane Performance Flight Testing Flight Test Engineering (FTE) 5701 Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six Aircraft Performance Flight

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Florida Institute of Technology Airplane Performance Flight Testing Flight Test Engineering (FTE) 5701 ____________________________________________________ Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six Aircraft Pe... rformance Flight Author: Ashley Bayard Crew Members: Isaac Silver (test pilot) Ashley Bayard (FTE) Joseph Brown (FTE) July 10, 2020 Flight: June 30, 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTSAbstract________________________________________________________________I Introduction____________________________________________________________2 Data Analysis__________________________________________________________2 Test Item Description___________________________________________________2 Flight Test Location____________________________________________________2 Flight Test Procedure___________________________________________________3 Data Reduction________________________________________________________7 Airspeed Familiarization________________________________________________7 Airspeed Calibration___________________________________________________7 Level Flight Performance________________________________________________8 Level Acceleration____________________________________________________10 Climb/Descent Performance____________________________________________13 Turn Performance_____________________________________________________15 Flight Analysis________________________________________________________16 Airspeed Calibration__________________________________________________16 Level Flight Performance_______________________________________________20 Level Acceleration____________________________________________________22 Climb/Descent Performance____________________________________________31 Turn Performance_____________________________________________________38 Conclusion____________________________________________________________40 References_____________________________________________________________42 Appendix A____________________________________________________________43 Appendix B____________________________________________________________49 Appendix C____________________________________________________________54 Appendix D____________________________________________________________69 Appendix E____________________________________________________________78I Abstract The objective of Flight Test Engineering (FTE) 5701 was to collect, reduce, and present data pertaining to aircraft performance flight testing. This data includes airspeed calibration (using GPS), level-flight performance, level acceleration, climb/descent performance, and turn performance. All aircraft performance flight testing was performed on the 6-seat, 2-door Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six aircraft. Testing was performed in accordance with the FTE 5701 Lab Manual instructed by Dr. Brian A. Kish from the Florida Institute of Technology. The aircraft performance flight testing was conducted out of Destin Executive Airport (KDTS) located in Destin, FL. One flight was performed with a crew of three: one test pilot and two FTE students. Both FTE students recorded numerous parameters during the flight test maneuvers and supplied one collective data set to the Maryland FTE students for reduction and analysis. Overall, the results for the data assembled in this report had tendencies that trend with the Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six specifications. When comparing, the most probable cause of errors is from FTE judgment while recording the flight test parameters and processing the post flight data. To build a better understanding of the aircrafts performance it is recommended to repeat the questionable data points.2 1.0 Introduction The objective of this flight test program was to assess the performance of the Piper PA- 32-260 Cherokee Six aircraft. Airspeed calibration (using GPS), level-flight performance, level acceleration, climb/descent performance, and turn performance were assessed during flight. 1.1 Test Article Description The Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six (Tail No. N3736W) is a single engine, propeller driven, fixed wing/landing gear aircraft. This 6-seat, 2-door aircraft requires passengers and crew, on the right side, to step on the wing to access the cockpit and cabin. On the left side, the aft door provides direct access to the cabin. The Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six used in this flight test is pictured below in Figure 1. Figure 1: Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six (Tail No. N3736W) (Warye, 2020) 1.2 Test Location Flight testing was conducted out of Destin Executive Airport (KDTS) located in Destin, FL. Maneuvers were conducted offshore over the Gulf of Mexico in VFR conditions. Testing was conducted between 0700L-1000L (1200Z-1500Z). See Figure 2 for the flight path of the Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six (Tail No. N3736W) during the flight test.3 Figure 2: Flight Path of the Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six (FlightAware, 2020) 1.3 Flight Test Procedure Prior to the flight, both flight test engineers prepared a weight and balance sheet (Figure 3) and calculated the center of gravity (CG). One flight was performed with a crew of three: one test pilot and two FTE students. The test pilot and one FTE student were seated in the front row while the other FTE was seated in the center row. Based on the calculations performed in Figure 3, Figure 4 shows that the Piper Cherokee Six is within the envelope to safely fly with the crew of three.4 Figure 3: Weight and Balance Sheet Figure 4: Piper Cherokee Six (Tail No. N3736W) Flight Envelope Table 1 provides a summary of the flight labs and when they were conducted. Table 2 provides a summary of all parameters that were recorded during the flight test along with which FTE was responsible for recording each parameter [Show More]

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