SPECIAL STUDY OF AUTOROTATIONAL PROCEDURES
Abstract
A limited investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of maneuvering flight during autorotation and the flight characteristics during power recovery from autorotation. The testing consisted of 6.5 flight hours and was conducted from 11 December 1967 through 24 January 1968. The tests indicated that the existing method of presenting autorotation rate of descent information in the operator's manual is not representative of the operational requirement. A maximum glide technique which utilizes low rotor speeds can be misleading, especially at high gross weights, in that rate of descent may increase, glide distance may decrease, and rotor energy will be less than optimum. The rapid increase in descent angle and rate of descent at speeds below 50 KIAS can be very deceptive. Altitude above the ground is probably the most important compensating factor during practice autorotations. Power recovery techniques are not particularly demanding at light weights but become extremely important at the limit gross weights.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0676820
Entities
People
- John J. Shapley Jr.
- Kenneth R. Ferrell
Organizations
- Edwards Air Force Base