BLUEMAX
is used to
construct detailed flight paths for fixed-wing aircraft. The
model is also useful as a standalone tool for determining
aircraft performance characteristics. In addition, the model
has the capability to utilize National Geospatial–Intelligence
Agency (NGA) Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED) to
construct terrain following/terrain avoidance flight paths and
determine line of sight information for a user-defined set of
ground threats. This provides the user the capability to
perform exposure studies and quick survivability estimates, as
well as mission planning. Using a large array of commands
available with BLUEMAX, flight profiles can be scripted in an
interactive mode (flight commands entered from the keyboard)
or an automated mode (scripted profiles reading from a
scenario file). BLUEMAX can also be flown interactively with
keyboard/mouse or stick and throttle (joystick) using the
Hybrid Integration and Visualization Engine (HIVE) which is
included with BLUEMAX. In the automated mode, commands are
read in from the input scenario file and are useful for
creating detailed flight paths based on way points as well as
terrain following flight paths.
Flight paths are constructed
as a sequence of flight segments. BLUEMAX models the flight of
the aircraft during each flight segment. The flight profile
during each segment is controlled by a set of command
variables such as; heading, altitude, velocity, and flight
segment time duration along with a set of aircraft specific
maneuver limits such as maximum G-factor and maximum roll
rate. BLUEMAX is an “effects model” in that a pilot control
actions, such as pullback on the stick, is accomplished by
commanding the model to simulate the equivalent change in
pitch, etc.
that would result from this pilot action. The pilot is
assumed to have direct control over time derivatives of roll
rate, G-factor rate, throttle setting rate, and speed brake
setting rate. All of these rates are limited by the actual
characteristics of the aircraft which are specified in the
input aircraft data file.
The scenario file specifies the aircraft to be used,
the terrain file (if terrain is to be used), the initial
starting conditions (i.e.,
location, initial heading, initial velocity,
etc.), the
number and type of external stores, output options as well as
any automated commands that may be used during the run. The
user has total control of the fidelity of the aircraft input
data file. The aircraft input data file includes customizable
data and tables including aircraft description (including
aircraft constant), aircraft envelope, power tables,
aerodynamic tables, limit tables (roll rage, G-Factor rage,
yaw rate Max G-Factor and Min G-Factor), control rate tables
(throttle rate, speedbrake rate,
etc.),
external stores tables (including external store drag
correction, factor table, load factor limit and store weight
limit tables.)
BLUEMAX can create up to fifteen different predefined
output files as selected in the input scenario file. A variety
of output formats are available including a standard format
(EAR) for input into ESAMS, ALARM, and RADGUNS. Other profiles
are formatted for text reports, Excel, and HIVE. Options are
also available for an aeronautical performance file, debut
output file, runtime messages output file, user defined output
file, line of sight output file, columnar aircraft status
information, aircraft data file listing, interactive command
summary, and mission summary file.
