Engine Inlet Performance Analysis for the V-280 Demonstrator

Engine inlet performance for the V-280 Air Vehicle Concept Demonstrator (AVCD) was evaluated for several different flight conditions including cruise, hover, and conversion mode. The analysis shows that the design provides sufficient pressure recovery while keeping the inlet's total pressure distortion within acceptable limits defined by the engine manufacturer, General Electric (GE). This paper discusses the tools and analytical methodologies used to perform the analysis. The approach allowed the V-280 AVCD design team to move forward with confidence that the engine would achieve performance margins to meet the program's flight test objectives.