This course provides an overview of rotary wing aircraft performance flight testing. The main performance subjects are covered, starting with rotor performance theory, and passing through the helicopter flight phases including hover, vertical climb, level flight, climbs and descents. The engine performance and Engine and Rotor Governing assessment (ERGA) are also covered. The course includes a mixture of theoretical lectures and tutorials/workshops where students create their data reduction template files for their subsequent flight exercises, using real flight data examples. Instruction focuses on flight test methods, test planning, data acquisition and analysis. Participants are also introduced to civil specification for rotary wing aircraft (CS27/29), military specifications and methods of demonstrating compliance when testing a new or modified aircraft.
This course includes a personal Welcome and Overview session (1/2 hour) and a Q&A and Debrief (1 hour) with an instructor on the academic team.
Topics:
- Introduction to Flight Test
- Gas Properties and International Standard Atmosphere (ISA)
- Air Data and Pressure Error Correction
- Engine and Rotor Governing Assessment
- Engine Performance
- Rotor Theory
- Hover Performance
- Vertical Climb Performance
- Climb and Descent Performance
- Level Flight Performance
Start date: Pre-recorded lectures on-demand
Duration: 55+ hours – optional on-site flying week(s) available on demand at extra cost
