The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has spent almost a decade developing a design standard for light autogiros in the UK, namely British Civil Airworthiness Requirements (BCAR) Section T. This paper describes the greatest challenge yet raced by these requirements, which is the safe return to flight status of the Air Command series of light autogiros in the UK. These aircraft have effectively been grounded for almost a decade following a spate of fatal accidents. The paper describes the simulation and flight experiments undertaken to provide substantive data to validate Section T, thereby allowing its use as the regulatory document against which the Air Command and other types can be tested. The rudimentary handling requirements and associated test methods specified by Section T are contrasted with and challenged by contemporary methods in simulation and flight testing familiar to the helicopter community. It is concluded that a simple design consideration, the location of center of gravity in relation to the propeller thrust-line can serve to satisfy the handling requirements of Section T. However, caution must be exercised because the criteria have been validated using only two dissimilar types of autogiro.
Experiments in autogiro airworthiness for improved handling qualities
Simulation und Verbesserung der dynamischen Stabilität von Tragflüglern
Journal of the American Helicopter Society ; 50 , 4 ; 295-301
2005
7 Seiten, 12 Bilder, 3 Tabellen, 11 Quellen
Article (Journal)
English
ausländische Norm , Betriebszulassung , Drehflügelflugzeug , Drehmoment , dynamische Stabilität , Entwurf , Flugsicherheit , Flugsimulation , Flugverhalten , Großbritannien , mathematisches Modell , Prüfverfahren , Schubkraft , Schwerpunkt , Stabilitätskriterium , Vertikalposition , Wirkungslinie , Theorie-Experiment-Vergleich
Experiments in Autogiro Airworthiness for Improved Handling Qualities
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