Advanced AH-64 Compound Wind Tunnel Testing Overview

The Advanced AH-64 research and development program has evaluated approaches to improve the speed, payload, and range characteristics of the current AH-64E Guardian attack helicopter. Through several multi-disciplinary design studies, a cost effective manner to expand vehicle performance was determined to evolve the configuration to a lift and thrust compounded vehicle. Wind tunnel testing was performed to reduce the risk of the new configuration, inform design studies, and provide a relevant correlation database for advanced design tools. The test campaign utilized powered and unpowered models at 16.0%, 24.5%, and 30.0% scale to address high risk areas of the compounded design. The carefully planned sequence of tests addressed high speed, lightly loaded main rotor performance/loads/control/motions, main rotor and wing interactions in hover and forward flight, drag reduction achievable within program constraints, and rotor/wing/fuselage and propulsor interactions. Data from the testing has been applied to configuration trade studies guiding the development of the Advanced AH-64.