Army Preliminary Evaluation Improved Main Rotor Blade Installed on a YAH-1 R Helicopter
Abstract
The United States Army Aviation Engineering Flight Activity conducted an Army Preliminary Evaluation of a YAH-1R helicopter, SN 70-16936, with the Kaman improved main rotor blade, designated K-747, installed. The tests were conducted to determine suitability for future Army testing and any performance differences with the K-747 rotor installed. The main rotor blade includes an advanced design airfoil, a tapered tip planform, composite material construction, and a multicell, ballistically tolerant spar. The helicopter was tested from 26 November through 6 December 1976 at the Kaman Aerospace Corporation facility in Bloomfield, Connecticut. During the test, eleven flights were flown for a total of 13.0 flight hours, 9.9 of which were productive. Test results indicate that the YAH-1R with the K-747 rotor has an increase in hover performance over the YAH-1S. A level flight performance improvement above 60 knots true airspeed became more pronounced as weight and altitude were increased. Climb and autorotational descent performance, static and dynamic stability, and mission maneuvering characteristics remain essentially unchanged from previous AH-1 helicopters. Qualitatively, there was a decrease in noise levels with the K-747 rotor. Simultaneous stability and control augmentation system (SCAS) hardovers occurred in all axes on five occasions during this evaluation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA072830
Entities
People
- Floyd L. Dominick
- Jerry R. Guin
- Joseph C. Watts