The First Implementation of a Total Flight Test System in Former Yugoslav Flight Test Centre

Abstract

This paper describes the overall system design and relevant performance characteristics of total Flight Test Instrumentation Systems (FTI) based on PCM/FM telemetry technique for aircraft testing first implemented in Former Yugoslav Flight Test Centre (FTC). Design and implementation of the FTI System is very important for successful evaluation of the testing prototype of vehicle. The system encompasses subsystems for airborne data acquisition and flight line check-out, a mobile ground telemetry system, and a fixed facility. The fixed facility includes a ground telemetry system for real time data processing and test control, and a data processing system for postflight analysis. The system represents a fully integrated approach to flight test systems which addresses the end-to-end requirements from airborne data acquisition and real time flight monitoring through aircraft performance and stability/control analysis. The architecture of the ground systems illustrates how preprocessing can be utilized to create powerful real time telemetry systems even with modest general purpose computer capability.