Honaker, David2014-03-142014-03-141993-12-05etd-06162009-063023http://hdl.handle.net/10919/43312Altitude excursions particular to high speed aircraft are investigated in this thesis. An aerodynamic database of the XB-70 is created and a longitudinal linear model is constructed for a high speed cruise flight condition. An examination of the unpiloted aircraft dynamics revealed that the excursions were not due to a poorly handling aircraft. Thus, it is theorized that the excursions are due to pilot vehicle interactions. A classical control method developed a loop closure scheme suitable for acceptable control of the aircraft. The results showed that a pilot should close an inner loop with negative attitude feedback and an outer loop with positive flight path feedback. A modern control method analysis using an optimal control pilot model confirmed the preceding conclusions. Based on these results, the cockpit pitch attitude display resolution should be less than 1° so that the pilot will be able to perform the loop closures necessary for constant altitude flight.xiv, 70 leavesBTDapplication/pdfenIn CopyrightLD5655.V855 1993.H658Airplanes -- PilotingHigh-speed aeronauticsThesishttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-06162009-063023/