Aeroelastic Scaling of a Joined Wing Aircraft Concept
Abstract
This report is a summary of the work completed within the framework of collaborative research between Instituto Superior Tecnico and the U.S. Air Force (AFRL - WPAFB) under the Grant/Cooperative Agreement Award No. FA8655-05-1-3076. The overall project goal is to produce a 1/9th scale, flight worthy test article for investigating the gust and flutter response of the Boeing Joined-Wing Sensorcraft Concept. While work has continued on the aeroelastic scaling processes, this past years work focuses primarily on the development of an intermediate, rigid flight test vehicle. Construction of the test article took place over the summer in Sintra, Portugal. A newly developed facility in Victoria will soon be operational where building will continue into the New Year. The building of the aircraft is on track for completion in July of 2010 with initial flights to commence at the end of the summer at the Portuguese Air Force Base in Ota. Several issues remain with regards to the stability and controllability of the aircraft and a short flight test windows. Several methods are proposed to address these issues Finally, an autopilot system was purchased and flown on board a commercially available RC trainer aircraft. The aircraft was flow successfully under automatic control in October of this year. Flight testing is to continue into the new year with the goal of performing a ?dry run? of the Rigid Sensorcraft?s flight test program in the spring.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 11, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA533707
Entities
People
- Afzal Suleman
Organizations
- Instituto Superior Técnico