Linear random search and engineering estimation of sinkage for launching carrier aircraft

A linear random search algorithm (LRSA) is developed to determine the critical value of takeoff weight limited to the safe flight track sinkage and an engineering estimation method (EEM) is proposed to calculate the sinkage of carrier aircraft launch in real time. Based on the analysis of free flight after leaving the carrier, the equations are established to participate into engineering estimation of flight track sinkage. Thanks to the proposed search algorithm, the maximum takeoff weight of carrier aircraft with safe catapult launch flight track sinkage is generated in few steps. The results of sinkage estimation and the search algorithm are in good agreement with that of aircraft catapult launch simulation. The main contribution of this manuscript is the establishment of simple and accurate engineering estimation for carrier aircraft launch flight track sinkage and the development of robust and efficient search algorithm for the critical value with safe catapult criteria.