Application of system identification to high performance aircraft

A concept of system identification applied to high performance aircraft is introduced followed by a discussion of the identification methodology. This methodology includes five steps: model postulation, design of an experiment, data compatibility analysis, model structure determination and parameter estimation combined with data collinearity diagnostic, and model validation. Special emphasis is given to optimal input design, model structure determination, data collinearity detection and assessment, and biased estimation techniques suitable for the analysis of highly collinear data. These parts of the methodology are demonstrated in examples. The paper is completed by notes on possible future developments and concluding remarks