Automatic gust compensation for GA aircraft

[Mahesh]

I found out something interesting today. I have known for a while that NASA has been looking into the possibility of automatic handeling of wind gusts for light aircraft.

My dad, who is a researcher at NASA, has just started some preliminary simulation work for the project! he said at this point, it is just a feasibility study. I think the idea is to have a computer make control surface adjustments to right the aircraft faster than a pilot could.

Mahesh

 

[tonyw]

I'd be all for that. You should have seen my, uh, arrival yesterday. The wind went from a half windsock of right headwind to a full windsock of left crosswind. Definitely an oh, poop moment!

 

[Mahesh]

I think it would definitely be good. I almost became part of a smoldeing hole in the ground a few months ago when I hit low level windshear and the 172 rolled to the left immeditely after I took off. It freaked me out so much that I had to hang out near the airport and circle around for a few minutes to become calm before I continued to my destination.

Mahesh

 

[Minuteman]

Awww, shucks. I hope you can turn it off ... ROCK'N'ROLL FOREVER!!

There is a little bit of inherent lateral stability thanks to dihedral and the vertical placement of the wing in relation to the CG.