Optimal Dynamic Soaring for Full Size Sailplanes

Dynamic soaring is a unique flying technique designed to allow air vehicles to extractenergy from horizontal wind shears. Dynamic soaring has been used by seabirds like theAlbatross to fly hundreds of kilometers a day across the ocean. Small hobby radio controlledsailplanes have also used this technique to achieve sustained speeds of over 200 miles per hourfrom just a simple hand toss. Dynamic soaring, however, has never before been studied for useon full size aircraft. The primary goal of this research was to prove or disprove the viability ofdynamic soaring for enhancing a full size aircraft's total energy by using a manned sailplane as ademonstration air vehicle. The results of this study will have a direct impact on the sport ofsoaring, as well as the design of the next generation of large, sailplane-like, robotic planetaryexplorers for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).This research began with a point mass optimization study of an L-23 Super Blaniksailplane. The primary goal of this study was to develop and analyze optimal dynamic soaringtrajectories. A prototype 6 degrees of freedom (DOF) flight simulator was then developed. Thissimulator helped to validate the dynamic soaring aircraft equations of motion derived for thisresearch and built operational simulator development experience.