The pressure scanning valve is a core technology in flight testing, enabling high-precision, high-efficiency, multi-point pressure 

measurement. It directly supports the validation of an aircraft's most critical systems—aerodynamics, structures, and propulsion. 

The data it provides is key evidence for demonstrating the safety, reliability, and efficiency of an aircraft, making it indispensable 

for new model development and airworthiness certification.

As a high-precision data acquisition device, it is vital for tests involving aerodynamics and structural loads.

1. Role in Flight Testing

Flight testing requires simultaneous pressure measurements at dozens or even hundreds of points on the aircraft surface. Using 

individual sensors for each point would be prohibitively expensive, heavy, space-consuming, and would introduce data correlation 

challenges due to inconsistent sensor characteristics.

The pressure scanning valve solves these problems. It is an integrated system containing:

A multi-channel (e.g., 32, 48, or 64 channels), high-precision pressure sensor array where all channels share a common reference 

pressure, ensuring measurement consistency.

A high-speed electronic scanning switch that sequentially samples each channel at very high speeds.

Pressure tubing that connects the aircraft's surface pressure taps to the scanner.

This allows one scanner to replace dozens of individual sensors, achieving high-density, high-synchronization, and high-consistency 

measurement.

2. Application in Specific Test Phases

It is used extensively during development flight testing and certification flight testing for the following:

a. Aerodynamic Performance Validation

Tests: Cruise performance, stall characteristics, lift and drag determination.

Usage: Pressure taps on wings and tail surfaces are connected to the scanner. Measuring pressure distribution across different 

angles of attack and speeds allows precise calculation of lift, drag, and moment coefficients.

Data Purpose: Validating and correcting wind tunnel data, building an accurate aerodynamic database, and calibrating flight 

dynamics models and simulators.

b. Structural Loads Validation

Tests: Maneuver loads, gust loads, flutter tests.

Usage: Pressure taps on primary structures (wings, empennage). Surface pressure distribution, combined with pre-calibrated "load 

equations," calculates the actual aerodynamic loads (bending, shear, torque).

Data Purpose: Verifying structural analysis models and confirming in-flight loads remain within design limits. This is critical evidence 

for Type Certification (TC).

c. Flight Control System Verification

Tests: Control surface effectiveness, flap/slat loads.

Usage: Dense pressure taps on ailerons, rudders, elevators, flaps, and slats measure pressure distribution and hinge moments.

Data Purpose: Verifying control surface design efficiency and providing feedback for actuator and control system design.

d. Engine Inlet/Exhaust Performance

Tests: Inlet flow field assessment, inlet surge boundary determination.

Usage: "Total pressure rakes" and static ports in the inlet lip, internal walls, and compressor face are connected to the scanner.

Data Purpose: Assessing inlet flow quality by analyzing distortion indices, ensuring stable airflow to the engine under all flight 

conditions and preventing inlet surge. This is key for propulsion-airframe integration validation.

3. Typical Workflow

Planning & Installation: Pressure tap locations are precisely planned on CAD models, then implemented on the aircraft with 

small-diameter holes.

Tubing & Scanner Setup: Tubing runs from each tap to the scanner, installed in a temperature-stabilized area (e.g., equipment bay)

on vibration-isolation mounts.

Calibration: Pre-flight static calibration establishes the voltage-to-pressure relationship.

Data Acquisition & Synchronization: The scanner interfaces with the Flight Test Instrumentation (FTI) system, which provides a 

synchronization signal to time-align pressure data with other parameters (attitude, speed).

Processing & Analysis: Post-flight, data is processed to generate aerodynamic coefficients, load distributions, and flow maps for 

analysis and reporting.

Summary

The pressure scanning valve is essential for advanced flight testing. By providing efficient, high-density, and synchronized 

pressure data, it directly validates core aircraft systems. The evidence it generates is fundamental to proving an aircraft's 

airworthiness and performance, making it a cornerstone of modern aircraft development and certification.