Flying qualities specifications criteria and their determination for unmanned aerial vehicles

Interest in the UAVs technology has grown tremendously over the years because of their usefulness in applications ranging from military to scientific research because of their ability to perform dangerous missions without risking human life. Flying quality criteria are currently being formulated for the UAVs. This may result in high loss rates, reduced efficiency and increased developmental cost. This paper briefly discusses the current flying quality criteria for UAVs and their applicability. A method, which can be used in conceptual design phase to approximately find the handling qualities, is given to facilitate the design process.