Preliminary Airworthiness Evaluation of the UH-60A External Fuel System
Abstract
Testing was conducted to determine the effects of the installation of the External Fuel System (EFS) on the performance and handling qualities of the UH-60A helicopter. A total of 27 productive flight hours were flown at Edwards Air Force Base, California between 21 March and 20 May 1988. The evaluation did not reveal any problems that should preclude airworthiness qualification. The installation of the EFS with two 230-gallon tanks caused an increase in power required to hover in ground effect (10-foot wheel height) and out of ground effect of approximately 5 percent and 6 percent, respectively. The change in equivalent flat plate area in the EFS configuration with two 230-gallon tanks varied from 6.2 to 12.4 square feet when compared to the UH-60A in the normal utility configuration. The drag of the UH-60A in the EFS configuration with two 230-gallon tanks is significantly increased when the cargo doors and gunner windows are open. Three shortcomings and two Prime Item Development Specification noncompliances were identified during the handling qualities evaluation of the UH-60A in the EFS configuration. Two of the shortcomings have been noted during previous evaluations of the UH-60A in the normal utility configuration. Handling qualities were not significantly different than those of the UH-60A in the normal utility configuration. Keywords: External fuel tanks; Helicopters; Aerodynamics; External fuel system, UH-60A helicopter.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA207570
Entities
People
- Michael A. Gleason
- Michael K. Herbst
- Paul Losier
- Reginald C. Murrell