Flight Evaluation of the New Handling Qualities Criteria Using the BO 105

The Aeronautical Design Standard ADS-33C is a proposed US Army/Navy handling qualities specification for rotorcraft. The DLR at Braunschweig has conducted a partial evaluation of the quantitative forward flight criteria of the ADS-33C by flight testing an unaugmented BO 105 helicopter. This paper describes the flight test and evaluation methods used to obtain the parameters needed for determining handling qualities levels. Applicability and repeatability of the criteria are also discussed. Handling qualities parameters that augment existing handling qualities databases are provided. Finally, some problem areas are identified and improvements are proposed.