A comprehensive series of hover stand and wind tunnel tests have been conducted using scale models of the CH-53K rotor and airframe to substantiate the aerodynamic performance of the air vehicle, to identify preferred geometries, and to provide validation data for analytical methods. The hover stand tests included isolated main rotor performance, fuselage vertical drag, and main rotor-tail rotor-empennage aerodynamic interactions. The wind tunnel tests included main rotor performance and stall boundary determination, fuselage drag buildup, comparison of design alternatives, and screening for unsteady aerodynamic interactions. The model test results were also used to generate aerodynamic models for Handling Qualities simulation, measure model blade dynamic loads, and to provide aerodynamic loads for structural analysis.
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