On the 3-dimensional low speed yo-yo maneuver

This paper presents numerical analyses of the low speed yo-yo maneuver of an aircraft to determine controls of thrust, bank-angle and angle-of-attack in the subsonic region in terms of the optimal control theory. Minimum-time flight paths are numerically calculated to overtake an opponent aircraft flying in some steady-state level turnings under several assumptions: both of aircraft are point masses and maneuver in the 3-Dimensional space. Their weights are considered constant in the maneuver. As a result of the analyses, the effectiveness of the low speed yo-yo maneuver is shown.