Evaluation of Aeronautical Design Standard – 33 Using a UH-60A Black Hawk

This paper describes the initial results from an 80-hour flight test assessment of the U.S. Army’s Aeronautical Design Standard-33 (ADS-33D-PRF) using a UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter. The trial was performed to assess the required compliance testing and evaluate the criteria in a good visual environment using the Army’s primary utility helicopter. Six pilots established a set of flight test maneuvers appropriate to the utility helicopter mission, which were evaluated in three aircraft configurations: empty, with an internal 4K lb ballast, and empty but with a 6K lb external slung load. Two of the configurations were also used to evaluate the specification’s quantitative requirements. The results of the flight test will be used to tailor ADS-33D-PRF to include requirements for utility classes of rotorcraft, with and without external slung loads.