Flight test procedures
 

I have been looking at the work of the ADFU during ww2 and am trying to understand what the procedure was for a test.

For example is a climb test a single attempt or several runs, and is the information gleaned the maximum rate achieved or is it an average etc.

Also I note the mention of "" British Performance Reduction Methods for Modern Aircraft (A.&A.E.E./Res/170)"" which is leaving me with more questions than answers.

Could anyone shine some light on this or point me to a publication on the subject.

Regards
Mike.

Re: Flight test procedures
 

I can't be precise about what the ADFU would be doing: I feel that climb tests would seem to be part of the job of the A&AEE. However the aim would be for the maximum climb performance, not just a peak rate but the time to a series of heights during the climb. It could be repeated for different speeds around the expected optimum, and/or with different boost pressures/throttle settings (if the latter could be readily adjusted to a repeatable standard). This could be to provide a suitable climb for the start of a longer mission, as opposed to the minimum time for an interception.

There might also be an interest in the climb at different weights, and/or the carrying of different stores, or different aircraft configurations (for example, how much did clipping the wings of a Spitfire affect the climb?).