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Automatic formation turns

  • US 4,674,710 A
  • Filed: 10/17/1985
  • Issued: 06/23/1987
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1985
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for performing a coordinated turn of a formation of a plurality of aircraft flying at a first air speed V, said plurality of aircraft including a leader aircraft and at least one follower aircraft in said formation, said formation characterized by preselected rearward displacement DS and lateral displacement DR of said follower aircraft relative to said leader aircraft and a known pre-turn leader aircraft flight path, said method comprising the steps of:

  • (a) rolling said leader aircraft into said turn at a preselected roll rate for a first preselected time interval tr to a preselected leader aircraft bank angle Bc, maintaining said leader aircraft at said preselected leader bank angle for a second preselected time interval, and rolling said leader aircraft out of said turn at said roll rate for a third time interval substantially equal to said first time interval, whereby said leader aircraft completes said turn with determinable change in flight direction;

    (b) turning said follower aircraft in response to said rolling of said leader aircraft into said turn by;

    (i) gradually changing the air speed of said follower aircraft to a second air speed from the start of said rolling of said leader aircraft into said turn until the earlier of the time of said rolling of said leader aircraft out of said turn and the lapse of a period of time substantially equal to tr +DS /V from inception of said rolling of said leader aircraft into said turn, maintaining said second air speed until start of said rolling of said leader aircraft out of said turn, and gradually changing the air speed of said follower aircraft from said second air speed to that of said leader aircraft over a time interval substantially equal to tr +DS /V from inception of said rolling of said leader aircraft out of said turn;

    (ii) maintaining level flight from inception of said rolling of said leader aircraft into said turn until said distance DS is traversed by said follower aircraft;

    (iii) banking said follower aircraft into said turn to a first follower aircraft bank angle while adjacent that portion of the path said leader aircraft traversed during the rolling of said leader aircraft into said turn, banking said follower aircraft into said turn to a second follower aircraft bank angle while adjacent that portion of the path said leader aircraft traversed while maintaining said preselected leader aircraft bank angle Bc, banking said follower aircraft into said turn to a third follower aircraft bank angle while adjacent that portion of the path said leader aircraft traversed during the rolling of said leader aircraft out of said turn;

    (iv) unbanking said follower aircraft to level flight when said follower aircraft is adjacent that portion of the path of said leader aircraft beyond leader aircraft roll-out;

    whereby the spacing between said leader aircraft and said follower aircraft is maintained substantially constant during said turn.

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