An Overview of the Vertical Lift Proprotor Noise Test in NASA's 14- by 22- Foot Subsonic Tunnel (Presentation Only)

The Vertical Lift Proprotor Noise Test (VLPNT) was a wind tunnel testing campaign in the NASA Langley Research Center's 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel (14x22) aimed at measuring the aerodynamic performance and acoustic behavior of proprotors operating at conditions representative of vectored thrust UAM vehicles with articulating propulsors. This was a continuation of a proprotor performance test conducted previously in the same facility. A secondary objective of the VLPNT was to perform a scaling investigation on a subset of the tested proprotor geometries in an effort to identify low-Reynolds number impacts on performance and acoustics. It is hoped that the results of the VLPNT effort will provide modelers and vehicle developers with critical knowledge of the aerodynamic and acoustic behavior of proprotors during the transitional operating modes between vertical and axial forward flight.