Design of a 37.7% Scale OH-58F Kiowa Warrior Wind Tunnel Test Model Experiment

The upcoming Cockpit and Sensor Upgrade Program will upgrade the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior to the new "F" model configuration. A series of wind tunnel tests was performed on a 37.7% scale model of the OH-58F to investigate potential issues and to help update the aircraft flight performance models. These tests were performed by the U.S. Army Aviation Development Directorate Joint Research Program Office at the NASA Langley Research Center 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel in Hampton, Virginia. The testing effort was divided into three phases and spanned one calendar year. This paper addresses the development of the test, the detailed design of the model and the various experimental measurement techniques used through-out the test to obtain data. This was a highly successful test effort with close coordination between multiple groups from the Army and NASA and will help make the OH-58 a more capable tool for the warfighter.