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NASA Meatball Propulsion-Controlled Aircraft (PCA) Photo Collection banner
 
simulator cockpit

NASA research pilot Gordon Fullerton checked out how the PCA software worked in the multi-engine simulator at NASA Ames before fight-testing PCA in an MD-11.

 
Photo Number: ED05-0092-1
Photo Date: October 11, 1994
 
Formats: 640x621 JPEG Image (311 KBytes)
1280x1242 JPEG Image (1006 KBytes)
3000x2910 JPEG Image (4315 KBytes)
 
Photo
Description:
NASA research pilot Gordon Fullerton checked out how the PCA software worked in the multi-engine simulator at NASA Ames before fight-testing PCA in an MD-11.
 
Project
Description:
In landings at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, on August 29 and 30, the MD-11 Propulsion-Controlled Aircraft (PCA) demonstrated software used in the aircraft's flight control computer that essentially landed the MD-11 without a need for the pilot to manipulate the flight controls significantly. In partnership with McDonnell Douglas Aerospace (MDA), with Pratt & Whitney and Honeywell helping to design the software, NASA developed this propulsion-controlled aircraft (PCA) system following a series of incidents in which hydraulic failures resulted in the loss of flight controls. This new system enables a pilot to operate and land the aircraft safely when its normal, hydraulically-activated control surfaces are disabled.
 
NASA Photo by: Tom Trower (NASA Ames)
 
Keywords: PCA, Propulsion-Controlled Aircraft, Gordon Fullerton, simulator, MD-11
 


Last Modified: July 12, 2005
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