The report describes the preliminary design of the Army VTOL Rotary Wing Composite Research Aircraft (CRA). The vehicle is configured to meet the requirements, and satisfy the objectives, of this program. This CRA design was the result of combining the most desirable features of a helicopter with those of a fixed-wing aircraft. The vehicle derived was capable of hovering as a helicopter with low rotor downwash velocity and yet cruise at high speed with economy and little noise or vibration. Use of the rigid-rotor system supplied positive control moments, in-flight rotor stop/start capability, and a simple blade-folding/stowing mechanism. The CRA can fly up to the conversion speed in the helicopter mode transfer lift and control to the conventional fixed-wing surfaces, stop the rotor, fold the blades and retract the rotor and blades into the top of the fuselage. This process is reversible to convert from the fixed-wing configuration to the helicopter. The results of the study indicate that the CRA is feasible and additional study and development should be undertaken. (Author)
Stopped Stowed Rotor Composite Research Aircraft
1969
440 pages
Report
No indication
English
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