NASA's Super-STOL Buffaloes: Part 3 QSRA The Quiet Shourt-haul Research Aircraft Project

摘要

The Quiet Short-haul Research Aircraft (QSRA) was the second DHC-5 Buffalo-based proof of concept (POC) vehicle operated by the NASA Ames Research Center (ARC). As recounted in the previous instalment, the earlier NASA Buffalo - the Augmentor Wing Jet STOL Research Aircraft (AWJSRA) - proved the "aug-wing" powered-lift concept to be aerody-namically sound, while at the same time exhibiting extreme, commercially impractical environmental noise. Nonetheless, its flight test programme produced a wealth of performance and systems data, as well as useful documentation on steepgradient terminal area flying technique. Early in the project, it was realized that the sustained sound pressure it produced would be far too noisy for populations near typical airports} The problem was seen as technically possible, but probably impractical, to fix for the aug-wing + vectored thrust configuration. QSRA, on the other hand was designed from the outset to comply with emerging FAA noise regulations. Noise abatement was but one aspect of this unique platform, designed to explore a range of technical solutions towards a jet-powered short-haul STOL transport.