Patent ID: 7996118

Claim:
A method for carrying out at least one in-flight trial on an aircraft, according to which method: a) at least one deflection order to be applied to at least one airfoil of the aircraft is generated; b) said deflection order is applied, during a flight of said aircraft, to said airfoil which is capable of being deflected so as to act on at least one piloting axis of the aircraft and which comprises at least one actuator for deflecting said airfoil as a function of at least one deflection order, said deflection order illustrating an evolution of the deflection as a function of time; c) at least one output curve is measured, illustrating the evolution as a function of time of a movement of the aircraft in response to the application of said deflection order to the airfoil during the flight; and d) the deflection order applied to the airfoil, and the measured corresponding output curve are recorded, wherein: in step a): at least one output setpoint is received, making it possible to obtain at least one output curve which is identifying for at least one aerodynamic effect of the aircraft; and at least one airfoil deflection order which is induced by said output setpoint received is generated; and the aircraft is slaved in flight so as to obtain and maintain on said aircraft said identifying output curve, during the application of said deflection order induced by said output setpoint.