Development of a Flight Test Methodology for a U.S. Navy Half-Scale Unmanned Air Vehicle

摘要

The development of a flight test methodology for predicting the performance characteristics of a half-scale Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) is discussed. This methodology is the first step in developing a UAV flight test program which will ultimately be used to help improve and/or validate the performance characteristics of these type of vehicles, currently being integrated into the U.S. Navy. The methodology determined powerplant characteristics through torque stand tests and aerodynamic characteristics through wind tunnel and flight tests. The data from these tests were used to construct power required and drag polar curves. These curves were then used to predict the basic performance characteristics of the half-scale Pioneer. Flight test; UAV; RPV; Performance; Drag Polar; Propulsive efficiency; Torque stand; Unmanned spacecraft. (jes)