Assignment#1

ROTORCRAFT DYNAMICS

Submitted by:
Merium Fazal Abbasi
Reg# 140101036
Aero-13B
Date: 3rd oct, 2017
Submitted to:
Sir Jamshaid Raiz
Institute of Space Technology Islamabad
Question
Collect the relevant data of various helicopters and plot thrust coefficient vs gross weight.

i. At sea-level on a standard day

ii. ii. At 5000 . on a standard day

Draw the plots using Excel showing the name of the helicopter and its relevant point. Include the data of
the helicopters in an Annex. Pick up at least two helicopters from each weight category (light, medium,
heavy).

Selection of helicopters
1. Light helicopters
a. Mosquito Ultralight Kit Helicopter
Specifications Values
Country of origin Canada
Manufactured by Mosquito Aviation
Role Kit helicopter
Main Rotor Diameter 18 ft.
Area of Rotor Disc 254.469 ft2
Main Rotor RPM 56.548 rad/s
Tip Velocity 508.932 ft/s
Gross Weight 530 lbs.

b. Robinson R-22 Small Helicopter

Specifications Values
Country of origin United states
Manufactured by Robinson Helicopter company
Role Light utility and trainer helicopter
Main Rotor Diameter 25.1667 ft.
Area of Rotor Disc 497.4406 ft2
Main Rotor RPM 55.5015
Tip Velocity 698.3948 rad/s
Gross Weight 1,370 lbs.

2. Medium helicopters
a. Bell 429 Global Ranger Helicopter

Specifications Values
Country of origin United states/Canada
Manufactured by Bell Helicopters
Role Multipurpose utility helicopter
Main Rotor Diameter 36 ft.
Area of Rotor 1017.8760 ft2
Main Rotor RPM 41.3643 rad/s
Tip Velocity 744.5774 ft/s
Gross Weight 7,000 lbs.
 b. Agusta Westland Helicopter
Specifications Values
Country of origin Europe
Manufactured by Agusta Westland
Role Civil Rescue
Main Rotor Diameter 36.08 ft.
Main Rotor Area 1022.4049 ft2
Main Rotor RPM 40.2124 rad/s
Tip Velocity 725.4317 ft/s
Gross Weight 6,615 lbs.

3. Heavy helicopters
a. Mil Mi-26
Specifications Values
Country of origin Russia
Manufactured by Rostvertol
Role Heavy lift Cargo Helicopter
Main Rotor Diameter 105 ft.
Area of Rotor Disc 8659.0147 ft2
Main Rotor RPM 13.8230 rad/s
Tip Velocity 725.7075 ft/s
Gross Weight 123,450 lbs.

b. Boeing AH6-4 Apache

Specifications Values
Country of origin United states
Manufactured by Boring Defense, Space and security
Role Attack Helicopter
Main Rotor Diameter 48 ft.
Area of Rotor Disc 1809.5574 ft2
Main Rotor RPM 32.9867 rad/s
Tip Velocity 791.6808 ft/s
Gross Weight 23,000 lbs.

Plot of thrust Co-efficient versus Gross Weight

1. At sea level
Name of Helicopter Gross Weight (lbs.) Thrust Co-efficient
Mosquito Ultralight 530 0.003383
Robinson R22 1,370 0.002375
Agusta West land 6615 0.007102
Bell 429 Global ranger 7000 0.005219
Boeing Apache 23000 0.008532
Mi-26 123450 0.011389

Thrust co-efficient Vs gross Weight

0.012
Mi-26

0.01

Apache
Thrust Coefficent, CT

0.008
Augusta Westland
0.006
Bell 429

0.004
Mosquito
Robinson R22
0.002

0
0 20000 40000 60000 80000 100000 120000 140000
Gross Weight , Wt (lbs)

2. At 5000 ft.

Name of Helicopter Gross Weight (lbs.) Thrust Co-efficient

Mosquito Ultralight 530 0.003926
Robinson R22 1,370 0.002757
Agusta West land 6615 0.008242
Bell 429 Global ranger 7000 0.006057
Boeing Apache 23000 0.009901
Mi-26 123450 0.013217
 Thrust co-efficient Vs gross Weight

0.014
Mi-26
0.012

0.01 Apache
Thrust Coefficent, CT

0.008 Agusta Westland

0.006 Bell 429

0.004 Mosquito
Robinson R22
0.002

0
0 20000 40000 60000 80000 100000 120000 140000
Gross Weight , Wt (lbs

3. Combined

Thrust co-efficient Vs gross Weight

0.014
Mi-26
0.012
Mi-26
Apache
Thrust Coefficent, CT

0.01
Agusta
0.008 Apache
Bell
0.006

0.004 Mosquito
R22
0.002

0
0 20000 40000 60000 80000 100000 120000 140000
Gross Weight , Wt (lbs
Series1 Series2

Series 1: at Sea level Series 2: at 5000 ft.

Interpretation
It has been observed that:
As weight increases, thrust coefficient increases.
As altitude increases, density decreases and thrust coefficient increases.
Although thrust generally increases with weight, but for the helicopters of the same class, thrust for
lighter helicopter may be higher than that of heavier one. This may be due to the reason that, the design of
heavier helicopter is more efficient than that of lighter one.
The second observation is in accordance with the formula:

=
( )2

Here = density, as density decreases, CT Increases.

References
1. http://www.rotorfx.com/aviation_classifieds/user_images/5879571.pdf
2. https://www.easa.europa.eu/system/files/dfu/EASA-OEB-Bell_429-00-05072012.pdf
3. http://www.blueskyrotor.com/performance/datasheet/AgustaWestland/A__109-A109-K2
4. https://www.aircraftcompare.com/subcategory/mid-size-helicopters/23
5. http://www.coaxhelicopters.com/coax-manned/light-and-small-helicopter-competitors/
6. http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/mi-26.php
7. http://www.vibrationdata.com/Newsletters/April2003_NL.pdf