UTTAS Flight Test: Real-Time Data Analysis

The Boeing Vertol Company’s helicopter for the U.S. Army Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) competition will be flight-tested at Grumman Aerospace Corporation’s facility at Calverton, Long Island. The Grumman Automated Telemetry System (ATS) will be used to expedite UTTAS qualification testing with minimum risk by providing on-line analysis of measured data. This paper discusses the special application software developed for helicopter testing with the ATS, which has heretofore been used only for flight test of fixed-wing aircraft. The software is designed to provide timely engineering analysis of test measurements in order to minimize flight-safety risks, aircraft turnaround time, repeat testing, and developmental problem delays. The analyses include structural, dynamic, aerodynamic, and aircraft-system considerations. Selected samples of real-time analytical displays generated on the ATS are Included.