A model-based analysis of handling qualities and adverse aircraft-pilot coupling in high angle of attack flight

Recent flight tests of a NASA supermaneuverable fighter aircraft indicated a susceptibility to a form of aircraft-pilot coupling referred to as pilot-induced-oscillation. This coupling resulted in very degraded handling qualities in air-to-air tracking tasks performed at high angle of attack. A pilot-model based analysis of the vehicle and task was conducted with the goals of: (1) analytically corroborating the oscillation tendency and poor handling qualities, and (2) determining improvements to the flight control system which would alleviate the oscillation tendencies and improve overall handling qualities, and involve as few changes to the existing flight control system as possible