scope:

This specification contains the requirements for the flying and handling qualities, in flight and on the ground, of U.S. Military, manned, piloted airplanes except for flight at airspeeds below V_con (MIL-F-83300). It is intended to assure flying qualities that provide adequate mission performance and flight safety regardless of design implementation or flight control system mechanization. The structure of the specification allows its use to guide these aspects in design tradeoffs, analyses and tests.

The flying qualities of all airplanes proposed or contracted for shall be in accordance with the provisions of this specification. The requirements apply as stated to the combination of airframe and related subsystems. Stability augmentation and control augmentation are specifically to be included when provided in the airplane. The automatic flight control system is also to be considered to the extent stated in MIL-F-9490 or MIL-C-18244, whichever applies. The requirements are written in terms of cockpit flight controls that produce essentially pitching, yawing and rolling moments. This approach is not meant to preclude other modes of control for special purposes. Additional or alternative requirements may be imposed by the procuring activity in order to fit better the intended use or the particular design.

For the purpose of this specification, an airplane shall be placed in one of the following Classes:

Class I Small, light airplanes such as Light utility Primary trainer Light observation

Beneficial comments (recommendations, additions, deletions) and any pertinent data which may be of use in improving this document should be addressed to: ASD/ENESS, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433 by using the self-addressed Standardization Document Improvement Proposal (DD Form 1426) appearing at the end of this document or by letter.

Class II Medium weight, low-to-medium maneuverability airplanes such as Heavy utility/search and rescue Light or medium transport/cargo/tanker Early warning/electronic countermeasures/airborne command, control, or communications relay Antisubmarine Assault transport Reconnaissance Tactical bomber Heavy attack Trainer for Class II Class III Large, heavy, low-to-medium maneuverability airplanes such as Heavy transport/cargo/tanker Heavy bomber Patrol/early warning/electronic countermeasures/airborne command, control, or communications relay Trainer for Class III Class IV High-maneuverability airplanes such as Fighter/interceptor Attack Tactical reconnaissance Observation Trainer for Class IV

The procuring activity will assign an airplane to one of these Classes, and the requirements for that Class shall apply. When no Class is specified in a requirement, the requirement shall apply to all Classes. When operational missions so dictate, an airplane of one Class may be required by the procuring activity to meet selected requirements ordinarily specified for airplanes of another Class.

The letter -L following a Class designation identifies an airplane as land-based; carrier-based airplanes are similarly identified by -C. When no such differentiation is made in a requirement, the requirement shall apply to both land-based and carrier-based airplanes.

The Flight Phases have been combined into three Categories which are referred to in the requirement statements. These Flight Phases shall be considered in the context of total missions so that there will be no gap between successive Phases of any flight and so that transition will be smooth. In certain cases, requirements are directed at specific Flight Phases identified in the requirement. When no Flight Phase or Category is stated in a requirement, that requirement shall apply to all three Categories. Flight Phases descriptive of most military airplane missions are:

Nonterminal Flight Phases:

Category A - Those nonterminal Flight Phases that require rapid maneuvering, precision tracking, or precise flight-path control. Included in this Category are:

a. Air-to-air combat (CO)

b. Ground attack (GA)

c. Weapon delivery/launch (WD)

d. Aerial recovery (AR)

e. Reconnaissance (RC)

f. In-flight refueling (receiver) (RR)

g. Terrain following (TF)

h. Antisubmarine search (AS)

i. Close formation flying (FF).

Category B - Those nonterminal Flight Phases that are normally accomplished using gradual maneuvers and without precision tracking, although accurate flight-path control may be required. Included in this Category are:

a. Climb (CL)

b. Cruise (CR)

c. Loiter (LO)

d. In-flight refueling (tanker) (RT)

e. Descent (D)

f. Emergency descent (ED)

g. Emergency deceleration (DE)

h. Aerial delivery (AD).

Terminal Flight Phases:

Category C - Terminal Flight Phases are normally accomplished using gradual maneuvers and usually require accurate flight-path control. Included in this Category are:

a. Takeoff (TO)

b. Catapult takeoff (CT)

c. Approach (PA)

d. Wave-off/go-around (WO)

e. Landing (L)

When necessary, recategorization or addition of Flight Phases or delineation of requirements for special situations, e.g., zoom climbs, will be accomplished by the procuring activity.

Where possible, the requirements of section 3 have been stated in terms of three values of the stability or control parameter being specified. Each value is a minimum condition to meet one of three Levels of acceptability related to the ability to complete the operational missions for which the airplane is designed. The Levels are:

Level 1 Flying qualities clearly adequate for the mission Flight Phase Level 2 Flying qualities adequate to accomplish the mission Flight Phase, but some increase in pilot workload or degradation in mission effectiveness, or both, exists Level 3 Flying qualities such that the airplane can be controlled safely, but pilot workload is excessive or mission effectiveness is inadequate, or both. Category A Flight Phases can be terminated safely, and Category B and C Flight Phases can be completed.

intended Use: