Publication Date:
2019-07-13
Description:
The use of a strake or spoiler on a helicopter tail boom to beneficially change helicopter tail boom air loads was suggested in the United States in 1975. The anticipated benefits were a change of tail boom loads to reduce required tail rotor thrust and power and improve directional control. High tail boom air loads experienced by the YAH-64 and described in 1978 led to a wind tunnel investigation of the usefullness of strakes in altering such loads on the AH-64, UH-60, and UH-1 helicopters. The wind tunnel tests of 2-D cross sections of the tail boom of each demonstrated that a strake or strakes would be effective. Several limited test programs with the U.S. Army's OH-58A, AH-64, and UH-60A were conducted which showed the effects of strakes were modest for those helicopters. The most recent flight test program, with a Bell 204B, disclosed that for the 204B the tail boom strake or strakes would provide more than a modest improvement in directional control and reduction in tail rotor power.
Keywords:
AIRCRAFT STABILITY AND CONTROL
Type:
NASA-TM-101496
,
NAS 1.15:101496
,
AVSCOM-TM-88-B-014
,
International Conference on Helicopter Handling Qualities and Control; Nov 15, 1988 - Nov 17, 1988; London
Format:
application/pdf
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