Date of Award

3-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Systems Engineering and Management

First Advisor

Michael E. Miller, PhD

Abstract

The U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons flying characteristics and flight envelope are dynamic and defined by its external weapon stores configuration. The employment of its munitions at certain speeds can put the F-16 into a flutter-like state in which Limit Cycle Oscillations (LCO) are induced. In LCO, a pilots fine motor control might be hindered, and the aircraft may lose combat effectiveness until flight conditions are reduced. The current research attempted to provide pilots with a predictive feedback display to avoid an LCO-susceptible configuration by increasing their situation awareness about the consequences of employing certain munitions to their flight envelope. The current research also aimed to help the pilot recover from the LCO state, and whether a Status or Command display aid type was more effective. It was hypothesized that the predictive feedback display and recovery display would result in less flight envelope violations, less LCO occurrences, and faster recovery than without feedback. With the experimental display, a slight increase in situation awareness was present, but overall, the participants combat performance suffered when the display was active. Feedback from participants indicated they liked the solution, but the design needed to be further matured.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-ENV-MS-21-M-225

DTIC Accession Number

AD1136745

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