AIRCRAFT GLIDE SLOPE COUPLER SYSTEM

摘要

A glide slope coupler adaptable to both Autopilot and Flight Director modes for guiding an aircraft to a landing along a radio defined glide slope beam. An integrator common to both modes effectively memorizes the aircraft descent rate and provides a signal representative thereof for summation with glide slope beam displacement and altitude rate signals in respective amplifiers coupled to drive the pitch actuators and Flight Director Indicator bar. A synchronizing mode is included for coupling the pitch actuator driver amplifier output to the integrator input to obtain a desired descent rate signal while flying in a cruise mode prior to intercepting the glide slope beam. Upon intercepting the beam either the Autopilot or Flight Director mode is activated as chosen by the pilot and the selected system then operates to reduce the beam displacement signal to zero with flight path damping being provided by the altitude rate signal. During the descent the beam displacement signal is modified as a function of altitude to compensate for the convergence of the glide slope beam. At a predetermined flare altitude the beam displacement signal is rendered ineffective and thereafter the integrator output signal is modified as a function of altitude to control the flare in accordance with the memorized value of the descent rate at the commencement of the flare maneuver.