Stability, Flying Qualities and Parameter Estimation of a Twin-Engine CS23/FAR23 Certified Light Aircraft

This paper presents some results of the flight test campaign conducted on the Tecnam P2006T aircraft, on the occasion of its certification process. This twin-engine propeller airplane is certified in the category CS23/FAR23. Many preliminary flight tests on a prototype of this light aircraft were aimed at optimizing performances and flight qualities. These experiences led to the application of two winglets to the original wing. The final configuration was extensively tested for the purpose of CS23 certification achievement. At the same time the airplane model, through a dedicated set of flight maneuvers, has been characterized by means of parameter estimation studies. The longitudinal and lateral-directional response mode were assessed and quantified. All the aircraft stability derivatives have been estimated from the acquired flight data using the well-known Maximum Likelihood Method (MLM). Some estimated stability derivatives have been also compared with the corresponding values extracted from leveled flight tests and from wind-tunnel tests performed on a scaled model of the aircraft