Investigation of a Compound Helicopter Flying the Depart and Abort MissionudTask Element

摘要

The next generation of rotorcraft will have to satisfy the appropriate handling qualities requirements beforeudentering service. Many of these vehicles will operate at significantly greater speeds than the conventionaludhelicopter and will therefore have different capabilities than current helicopters. Due to the different capabilitiesudof the compound helicopter, it is possible that new Mission Task Elements (MTEs) need to beuddeveloped to assess the handling qualities of this type of helicopter. It is also possible that existing MTEsudmay be suitable without modification. Overall, it seems necessary to review the US Army’s current handlingudqualities specification, ADS-33, and determine the suitability of the current MTEs for compound vehicles.udThe broad aim of the paper is to assess the performance of compound helicopter during manoeuvring flight.udMore specifically, a simulation study of a compound helicopter flying the Depart and Abort ADS-33 MissionudTask Element. There are two objectives: firstly the capabilities of the compound vehicle is comparedudwith those of a conventional helicopter, and secondly, the suitability of the current Depart and Abort MTE,udfor compound vehicles, is assessed. The results of the research study highlight the capability of compoundudhelicopters in low speed acceleration manoeuvres. These results can be used to redefine low speed accelerationudmanoeuvres in the new update to the ADS-33 specification. The results also indicate some informationudabout the potential design issues with the compound helicopter.