ROTORCRAFT FLIGHT PARAMETER ESTIMATION

An aircraft is provided and includes an airframe. The airframe includes first and second rotor apparatuses at upper and tail portions of the aircraft, respectively, to provide for control and navigational drive. The aircraft further includes a stabilizer component disposed at the tail portion in a position displaced from downwash of the first and second rotor apparatuses at airspeed ranges and a control system configured to apply a dither actuation signal to the stabilizer component at the airspeed ranges by which an aircraft response to a stabilizer component input is measurable for airspeed estimation purposes.