Kern County Obituaries

Ralph H. Smith 

Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008

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Source Unknown; Date Unknown

MOJAVE � The world of flight test lost a true pioneer with the passing of 
Ralph H. Smith on Saturday, May 31. Ralph Smith held a Masters degree in 
engineering from Princeton, and worked for a number of engineering consultancy 
firms that dealt with solving flight control problems. His unique approach 
to engineering problems ranged far beyond military aircraft flight test, from 
his start in automotive dynamics analysis and engineering to his contributions 
to the systems that kept solar panels tracking the sun on Dick Rutan�s 
round-the-world balloon attempt.
 
Problem-solving
Much of Smith�s career has been dedicated to solving problems of Pilot Induced 
Oscillation (PIO) which have plagued fly-by-wire aircraft. He was instrumental 
in solving PIO problems with the Space Shuttle Orbiter, the B-2, the SAAB Gripen, 
AFTI/F-16 and X-29.
 
His extensive experience in research in human-machine integration, the source 
of PIO, led him to form the company High Plains Engineering, based at the 
Civilian Flight Test Center in Mojave. Smith has also been instrumental in 
flight and handling qualities research, testing and simulation both at the 
US Air Force Test Pilot School and the National Test Pilot School.
 
Smith was a contributing author for MIL-STD-8785C, Flying Qualities of Piloted 
Airplanes and will be remembered as one of the originators of the Smith-Geddes 
Criteria for handling qualities assessment. He was also well known for his 
innovative handling qualities analysis software, called RSMITH, which helps 
evaluate aircraft handling qualities and predicts where there might be control 
system problems. At the time of his death, he and the HPE team were finalizing 
a commercial package of his proprietary software, SIM IV, which will be debuted 
at this month�s Paris Airshow.

Innovative software
While it is relatively easy to predict and engineer the behavior of mechanical 
systems, it is another thing entirely to mathematically quantify human behavior, 
which many consider to be unpredictable. Smith�s software designs, however, 
have been able to do just that. With human reflexive response quantifiable, 
aircraft flight control software can then be designed to accommodate expected 
pilot reactions and thus mitigate against PIO. Such problems, for instance, 
caused the crash of the SAAB Gripen prototype on landing, and Smith was 
instrumental in helping identify the software changes that needed to be made. 
With those changes made, the Gripen has become an extremely capable fighter aircraft.

Smith is survived by his wife, Lilia and four children, Eric, Erin, Jason and Julia. 
A memorial service was held at the National Test Pilot School in Mojave last Friday.

RALPH SMITH, who passed away last week, checks a flight simulator he designed and 
built for the National Test Pilot School at Mojave Airport.

NOTE: Photo At: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htmphotos/kern/