Aircraft Route Optimization for Formation Flight

Validation of a numerical simulation tool for aircraft formation flight

This paper covers a numerical simulation of a NASA test flight utilizing a formation of two F18A Hornet aircraft. The numerical simulation was made using an adapted version of the vortex lattice method TORNADO, allowing for several aircraft to be simulated in a trimmed condition. The numerical results showed good agreement with the flight test data. Some discrepancies due to the numerical model...

Aircraft Flight Path Optimization The Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman Considerations

Abstract Flight path optimization is designed for minimizing aircraft noise, fuel consumption and air pollution around airports. This paper gives theoretical considerations and algorithms solving the Hamilton-JacobiBellman equation (HJB) of aircraft trajectory optimization. Comparisons with direct and indirect methods are carried out. The OCP problem is transformed into new equalities-constrain...

Cruise Flight Optimization of a Commercial Aircraft with Winds

With high prices for fuel and airfare, companies are looking to minimize operational costs. Reducing aircraft fuel consumption is one strategy companies use to lower costs. During flights, commercial aircraft divide the cruise portion's range into cruise-steps, which are changes in altitude typically in increments of 2,000 ft. These cruise-steps allow the aircraft to ascend in a manner easily t...

Formation Flight Optimization Using Extremum Seeking Feedback

A comprehensive design procedure based on extremum seeking for minimum power demand formation  ight is presented, the Ž rst with performance guarantees. The procedure involves the design of a new wake robust formation hold autopilot and transformation of the closed-loop aircraft dynamics to a form in which a newly available rigorous design procedure for extremum seeking is applicable. The desi...

Steady Aircraft Flight and Aircraft Performance