Rotorcraft aerodynamics

Rotorcraft aerodynamics

Helicopter are very complex aircraft so that the achievement of high performances required a long design activity helped by experiments and simulations.

The wind tunnel tests of helicopter are usually split in tests of the fuselage (including rotor hub) and tests of the rotor.

Fuselage models (the so called “drag models”) at GVPM can be tested in both closed and open-jet test chamber while the rotors are usually tested in the open jet.

Aerodynamic performance of  rotor/propellers with diameter up to 2.5m and power up to 75 kW can be tested in GVPM open-jet test section by means of a test rig capable to reproduce the complete conversion phase typical of tiltrotors and eVTOLs.