Design of experiment in Flight-Testing as an element of higher education for aerospace Engineers

Jerzy Bakunowicz, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK

Abstract

Engineers cause that training of the first group became extremely expensive, and in parallel, for the second one is based on the on-job training (OJT). Therefore, there are no unified learning objectives included in academic teaching programs concern skills of an aerospace engineer in terms of flight-testing. Nevertheless, universities include several elements, depending on their own resources and capabilities (teaching staff, laboratories, etc.). In extreme examples, there are aerospace alumni that never deal with a real aeroplane, not saying about the correlation of their theoretical knowledge with flying experience. That is at odds with engineering learning practice that underlines practical application, known as problem based-learning (PBL) and has utmost importance in aerospace.

The paper presents an example of flight-testing techniques introduction into university programme for aerospace engineering, based on design and analysis of the experiment. The main aim of this approach is not only to teach standard flighttesting techniques but also to carry the student through the whole process of identification of the object, definition of variables, design and accomplishing of the experiment. However, the individual tasks for students are based on the airworthiness requirements; they are considered in a wider scientific sense. So, not only how to proceed, but student finds answers why, on what grounds and needs and how the certain task is designed. The author deals with his experience in this field. First, establishing of flying laboratory based on a certified aeroplane and additional recording devices is described. The main part of the paper is devoted to the students’ activities and engagement as well as reflections on advantages and drawbacks of this approach. The conclusions present analysis of several runs of the module. The module was delivered to the final year master students, concerning their maturity and range of academic knowledge. Nonetheless, multidisciplinary content of flight-testing activities revealed a certain number of gaps related to vital areas but covered at least marginally during the studies. As the main outcome of presented activity, the author may state that teaching of flight-testing is not only familiarization of students with the subject itself. It also shows them a much broader point of view on the whole aircraft life cycle on one side. As well, makes them aware of their strong and weak sides as persons who enter professional world as aerospace engineers.