Stall/Spin Flight Test Techniques with COTS Model Aircraft and Flight Data Systems

This paper presents methodologies and techniques for stall/spin flight testing using commercially off-the-shelf model aircraft and flight data systems. Flight test procedures allowing systematic and efficient testing are outlined, as well as piloting techniques to obtain quality spin flight data. Two spin flight test campaigns with different testbeds are described, including the aircraft, flight data system and ground station setups. Flight test data for the two testbeds are presented and the incipient, developed and recovery characteristics are analyzed. The spin data is consistent across spin maneuvers for a given aircraft, and also similar between aircrafts of different scale, showing the accuracy of the flight test methodology and instrumentation.