A combined wind tunnel/computer analysis was undertaken to evaluate the aerodynamic feasibility for airborne recovery of a fixed-wing remotely piloted vehicle (RPV). A mpa of aerodynamic loads interacting on the aircraft and RPV was obtained in the wind tunnel. The flow field was then represented mathematically and used to evaluate the aerodynamic feasibility of airborne retrieval. It was concluded that retrieval forward of the aircraft is potentially dangerous, unless a separation of more than two meters is maintained; retrieval aft of the aircraft is aerodynamically safe without restriction. In addition, it was determined that the primary effect of the aircraft flow field on the RPV was in the pitch plane. (Author)
Aerodynamic Feasibility for Airborne Retrieval of a Remotely Piloted Vehicle
1976
46 pages
Report
No indication
English
NTIS | 1978
|NTIS | 1978
|Remotely Piloted Vehicle Technology
SAE Technical Papers | 1972
|Enhancing Remotely Piloted Vehicle Training
AIAA | 2011
|Electric Remotely Piloted Vehicle (ERPV)
NTIS | 1983
|