Helicopters represent high-complexity systems where achieving peak performance necessitates extensive design cycles supported by both numerical simulations and empirical validation. In aeronautical research, wind tunnel testing for rotorcraft is typically bifurcated into two distinct experimental campaigns: fuselage testing (which includes the rotor hub assembly) and dedicated rotor testing. This separation allows for a more granular analysis of the aerodynamic interactions between stationary and rotating components, allowing engineers to better characterize drag, interference effects, and the complex wake dynamics inherent to vertical lift platforms. The GVPM facility is specifically optimized for these low-Mach regimes, providing the necessary scale and flow conditions to test fully articulated helicopter rotors models till to full-scale eVTOL propellers.
