Procedural guide for modelling and analyzing the flight characteristics of a helicopter design using Flightlab

by: McVaney, Gary P.

Publication date: 1993-09

Topics: Helicopter design, Analysis, Flight characteristics, Flight simulation, Computer modeling

Publisher: Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School

Collection: navalpostgraduateschoollibrary; fedlink

Language: English

This thesis presents one method for modelling and analyzing a helicopter design using Flightlab. Flightlab is a computer program that provides for engineering design, analysis and simulation of aircraft using non-linear dynamic modeling techniques. The procedure to model a single main rotor helicopter is outlined using the sample helicopter design in the book 'Helicopter Performance, Stability, and Control' by Ray Prouty. The analysis procedure contains computer program scripts for determining the time response of the helicopter to standard control inputs such as a longitudinal impulse, a lateral step, and a pedal doublet. A linear model of the helicopter can be extracted from the non-linear model, and a comparison of the time response to the control inputs based on these two models is presented. The procedure for conducting frequency sweep testing for the linear model is also discussed. This guide to using Flightlab for aircraft modelling and analysis is designed to make it easier to use Flightlab for creating additional aircraft models for use in control system analysis and additional engineering design.