Practical Design Considerations for Integrating the Propulsion System With the Aircraft for Jetborne Flight

Results of a pilot-in-the-loop simulator evaluation for engine and configuration variations to the AV-8B Harrier II aircraft are presented. Configurations were tested for various center of gravity locations, weights, pitching moments of inertia, and thrust center locations in jetborne flight. The effects of the propulsion system’s characteristics in relation to aircraft parameters are generalized with regard to pitch handling qualities such as control power, pitch sensitivity, disturbance susceptibility, and control margin. A proposed modification to improve pitch handling qualities also was evaluated and results for this modification are discussed.