Some Notes on United Kingdom Experience in the Testing of VTOL Aircraft

摘要

Experience to date in the flight testing of VTOL aircraft in the United Kingdom is reviewed. Methods employed in the testing of three aircraft, the Rolls-Royce 'Flying Bedstead', Short SC.1., and Hawker P 1127 are considered. Special ground facilities, in particular gantries and perforated platforms, evolved for the testing of these aircraft are briefly described and experience with them is discussed. Instrumentation methods which have been employed are briefly discussed and some special aspects of the flight programmes adopted are noted. It is generally concluded on the basis of this experience that, for the testing of a future similar type of aircraft, a perforated platform with ground tethering would be the primary additional facility needed and that data recording requirements are mainly similar to those for conventional aircraft. (Author)