Design Reference Model Based Maneuverability Phase Planes of Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aircraft

This article presents the Design Reference Model, which provides a flyable specification of an intended aircraft, and can be employed to validate aircraft behavior from the perspective of handling qualities, inceptor interpretation, flight mission, and more even before a detailed system design is available. Using the concept of the Design Reference Model, maneuverability phase planes specifying the rotational acceleration and jerk required to achieve different handling quality levels in the hover flight phase of a generic vertical take-off and landing transition aircraft are derived. The handling quality levels are evaluated based on the maneuverability requirements for the hover and low speed phases defined in the Aeronautical Design Standard for Military Rotorcraft ADS-33E-PRF.