OPTIMIZATION OF A GROUND EFFECT MACHINE
Abstract
Professor Peter Bielkowicz conceived the idea of a ground effect machine that could also fly. This thesis tests the concept and improves on the original design. Two wind tunnel models were built to determine the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle. When the wind tunnel was closed because of safety problems after the test program had just begun, a third, sub-scale, model was built and tested in a smaller tunnel to test improvements dictated by first tests. The results from these tests were combined with some analytical techniques to predict the performance of the full scale vehicle. The final vehicle will carry one pilot and two passengers (if necessary). When armed with two 7.62 mm machine guns, carrying a full fuel load and a 200-lb. pilot, the gross weight of the vehicle is 2400 pounds. Its dimensions are 7.2 feet wide, 17.9 feet long and 13.0 feet high, including the end plates necessary for such a low aspect ratio wing. This small size will allow the vehicle to travel over back trails or unimproved roads. Despite the severe limitations imposed by the dimensions, the vehicle will become airborne at 99 feet per second, and clear a 50-foot obstacle 545 feet from the take off point, when powered by the 300- horsepower Curtiss-Wright RC-2-90-y rotating cylinder engine.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0822155
Entities
People
- James C. Mcsherry
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology