HELICOPTER-TYPE ROTOR DECELERATORS.
Abstract
Helicoptr-type rotors appear attractive for the deceleration, trajectory control, gliding descent and final recovery of almost all types of aero space payloads. The potential of rotors is based upon (1) their inherent virtues of L/D gliding capability, controllability, and soft, flared landing; (2) past experience with uncontrolled rotor-decelerated air-dropped stores; and (3) helicopters having the capabilities of control, autorotation, and flare-out to land. Aero nautical Systems Division, as well as other Government agencies, believes that rotor de celerators have potential, particularly in light of the desired expansion of limited war capabil ity, and is conducting applied research to ex plore the basic feasibility of using rotors for aerospace payload recovery. This effort involves both winel testing in the transonic-super sonic range, and free-flight testing at deploy ment speeds up to Mach 0.9 and analyses. To date, wind tunnel tests have demonstrated the deployment, operating, and drag characteristics of an eight-foot diameter rotor decelerator through a Mach number range from 0.5 to 1.5. Analyses have indicated that rotors, as well as providing subsonic performance capability, may have potential as hypersonic glide and drag de vices. Thus, rotor decelerator potential embraces the spectrum ranging from relatively low-speed aerial delivery of payloads to suborbital and orbital space vehicle recovery. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0410581
Entities
People
- R.r. Tyndall
Organizations
- Flight Dynamics Laboratory