Joint Development of Multiplatform Analysis Tools in the Eurofighter Flight Test Programme

Marco W. Soijer, EADS Military Aircraft - Flight Test, Manching, Germany
Peter Krause, EADS Military Aircraft - Flight Test, Manching, Germany
Martin Vannahme, EADS Military Aircraft - Flight Test, Manching, Germany

Abstract

Aerodynamic model identification and validation form a major task in the flight test program for a new aircraft. It is of paramount importance that the tools and technologies that are used in the validation process optimally support the analyst: A seamless integration of the various analysis tools, automation of tasks that can be automated, while allowing maximum flexibility in the task that require human decisions, and streamlined data management are the key issues. At EADS, a new parameter estimation tool is developed with the main objective to allow the flight test data analysis engineer to focus her or his attention on the actual task, the assessment of the parameter estimation results, and to spend as little effort as possible on data management, and tool maintenance tasks. The current tool development project will result in a tool that suits the concept for platform-independent flight test data analysis tools that was developed at EADS CASA. Driven by EADS Military Aircraft in Germany, the development of the new tool is actively supported by EADS CASA in Spain.