Aerodynamic Feasibility for Airborne Retrieval of a Remotely Piloted Vehicle.

Abstract

A combined wind tunnel/computer analysis was undertaken to evaluate the aerodynamic feasibility for airborne recovery of a fixed-wing remotely piloted vehicle (RPV). A mpa of aerodynamic loads interacting on the aircraft and RPV was obtained in the wind tunnel. The flow field was then represented mathematically and used to evaluate the aerodynamic feasibility of airborne retrieval. It was concluded that retrieval forward of the aircraft is potentially dangerous, unless a separation of more than two meters is maintained; retrieval aft of the aircraft is aerodynamically safe without restriction. In addition, it was determined that the primary effect of the aircraft flow field on the RPV was in the pitch plane. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1976
Accession Number
ADA143695

Entities

People

  • D. W. Lacey
  • E. F. Mccabe Jr.

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircraft Models
  • Aircrafts
  • Boundary Layer
  • Center Of Gravity
  • Control Systems
  • Data Reduction
  • Flow Fields
  • Mach Number
  • Materials
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Remotely Piloted Vehicles
  • Scale Models
  • Sideslip
  • Strain Gages
  • Trajectories
  • Vehicles
  • Wind Tunnels

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aerodynamics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.