This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Initial Flight Experience With Lift Fan Propulsion
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
The first ten flight hours of the U.S. Army XV-5A lift fan aircraft have been completed at the General Electric Flight Test Operation, Edwards Air Force Base. Approximately equal flight time has been accummulated in low speed conventional turbojet-powered flight and VTOL fan-powered flight.
Conventional flight between wing stall speed and 160 knots has met design objectives in terms of installed turbojet performance, compatibility of the convertible lift fan propulsion system, power requirements, stability and general handling qualities.
Over thirty vertical lift-offs have demonstrated a thrust augmentation of nearly three with fan-derived control performance achieving desirable levels. Qualitative pilot evaluations indicate XV-5A simpler to fly than most rotorcraft. Next flight test sequence will use both aircraft to simultaneously expand conventional flight envelope and explore transition flight through propulsion system conversion speed.
Authors
Topic
Citation
Beeler, E. and Russell, H., "Initial Flight Experience With Lift Fan Propulsion," SAE Technical Paper 640346, 1964, https://doi.org/10.4271/640346.Also In
References
- XV-5A DATUM Nos. 1 thru 10, dated August - September 1964 XV-5A Project Unpublished Data, General Electric Company, Edwards Flight Test Operation
- “A Pilot's Observations of the XV-5A Program Synthesis” W.L. Everett, Ryan Aeronautical Division; presented to Society of Experimental Test Pilots at Los Angeles September 26 1964
- “The Army XV-5A Lift Fan Flight Research Airplane” SAE 788F, W.R. Morgan, H.C. True, H.B. Starkey; presented at Automotive Engineering Congress Detroit Michigan January 13-17 1964