TY - JOUR
T1 - DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT TESTS OF A FOUR-BLADED LIGHT HELICOPTER ROTOR SYSTEM.
AU - Cresap, Wesley L.
AU - Myers, Alan W.
AU - Viswanathan, Sathy P.
PY - 1979
Y1 - 1979
N2 - A four-bladed, soft-inplane rotor of composite construction has been designed and flight tested on a 206L prototype helicopter as part of the continuing research and development effort of Bell Helicopter Textron. In the first 10 months of operation, 300 hours of flight were accumulated. These encompassed both development tests and service suitability evaluations in high-altitude, cold-weather, and desert environments. Measurements during flight to 147 knots and maneuvers to 2. 6g indicate that the hub and blades have unlimited fatigue lives. Vibrations are low throughout the helicopter flight envelope. High-altitude tests show the rotor to provide exceptionally good autorotative characteristics. Cold-weather evaluation has demonstrated trouble-free operation to minus 26 degree F, while desert environmental tests show little or no erosion of the blades after 500 landings and takeoffs. This program has confirmed Bell's technical predictions and provides an additional option in offering a rotor system for every specific mission.
AB - A four-bladed, soft-inplane rotor of composite construction has been designed and flight tested on a 206L prototype helicopter as part of the continuing research and development effort of Bell Helicopter Textron. In the first 10 months of operation, 300 hours of flight were accumulated. These encompassed both development tests and service suitability evaluations in high-altitude, cold-weather, and desert environments. Measurements during flight to 147 knots and maneuvers to 2. 6g indicate that the hub and blades have unlimited fatigue lives. Vibrations are low throughout the helicopter flight envelope. High-altitude tests show the rotor to provide exceptionally good autorotative characteristics. Cold-weather evaluation has demonstrated trouble-free operation to minus 26 degree F, while desert environmental tests show little or no erosion of the blades after 500 landings and takeoffs. This program has confirmed Bell's technical predictions and provides an additional option in offering a rotor system for every specific mission.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/0018305907
U2 - 10.4050/jahs.24.1.20
DO - 10.4050/jahs.24.1.20
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0018305907
SN - 0002-8711
VL - 24
SP - 20
EP - 25
JO - Journal of the American Helicopter Society
JF - Journal of the American Helicopter Society
IS - 1
ER -