Referred Weight Flight Test Technique Applied to First of Class Flight Trials

摘要

The referred weight flight test technique has been used by the RAN to establishShip Helicopter Operating Limits for a number of years. This technique involves keeping the referred weight, defined as aircraft weight divided by density ratio, constant for a given flight test. The validity of using this technique has been questioned within the RAN, specifically with respect to its relevance and application to power and flight control margins. This report illustrates the relationships between power requirements, flight control positions, and referred weight by first using simplified equations to derive the mathematical relationships. To verify these relationships, the simulation code GenHel, which allows for many of the complex factors ignored in deriving the simplified equations, has been applied over a wide range of conditions. Results suggest that the referred weight technique is valid for conditions typically encountered during First of Class Flight Trials. The referred weight flight test technique has been used by the RAN to establish Ship Helicopter Operating Limits for a number of years. This technique involves keeping the referred weight, defined as aircraft weight divided by density ratio, constant for a given flight test. The validity of using this technique has been questioned within the RAN, specifically with respect to its relevance and application to power and flight control margins. This report illustrates the relationships between power requirements, flight control positions, and referred weight by first using simplified equations to derive the mathematical relationships. To verify these relationships, the simulation code GenHel, which allows for many of the complex factors ignored in deriving the simplified equations, has been applied over a wide range of conditions.