CONSIDERATIONS IN THE ESTIMATION OF FULL-SCALE ROTOR PERFORMANCE FROM MODEL ROTOR TEST DATA

A discussion of the factors affecting the scaling of wind tunnel performance test data to full scale is presented. Aerodynamic and structural considerations are addressed including the effect of Reynolds number, Mach number, blade exterior contour and rotor blade physical properties. Methods of scaling hover and forward flight wind tunnel test data to full scale are presented. Correlations of 1/6-scale CH47D wind tunnel data with full-scale CH-47D whirl tower and flight test results are included to illustrate the scaling techniques.