Patent attributes
Systems and methods for displaying to a tilt rotor aircraft pilot an optimum nacelle position and/or automatically controlling movement of the nacelles for the pilot. An automatic nacelle conversion function employs an active flight director speed mode to provide a current desired speed and a final speed. When the automatic nacelle conversion function is in a passive (uncoupled) mode of operation, the pilot follows visual cues, manually achieving the commanded nacelle position by rotating a thumbwheel. When in an active (coupled) mode of operation, the automatic nacelle conversion function provides a fully automatic nacelle controller requiring no pilot input. This automatic nacelle controller provides a variable nacelle rate along with several angle versus speed schedules tailored for different guidance speed modes and a wide range of aircraft configurations. The automatic nacelle conversion function is improved though the inclusion of altitude, rate of climb, and deceleration rate commands.
