Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T07:48:00.594Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Longitudinal stability of gyroplanes

Part of: 75 year anniversary of Aeronautical Engineering at Glasgow University

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

S. S. Houston
S. S. Houston*
Affiliation:
University of Glasgow Scotland, UK
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The class of aircraft known as gyroplanes (or autogyros) helped to pave the way for the development of the helicopter. However, they have found no application in contemporary commercial or military aviation. It is in recreational or sport flying that the gyroplane has proved popular. Most if not all designs are however homebuilts, and as a consequence little analysis of any significance has been conducted on the flight mechanics of these aircraft. This Paper presents an analysis of the longitudinal stability of gyroplanes. Simple consideration of the basic forces and moments that might influence stability, in the context of elementary rotor behaviour, is used to assess the fundamental nature of gyroplane longitudinal stability. This is quantified by the application of a sophisticated generic rotorcraft mathematical model to the gyroplane problem. It is concluded that the basic configuration can be longitudinally stable with appropriate design, and that the rotorspeed degree of freedom must also be included when modelling the aircraft.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 100 , Issue 991 , January 1996 , pp. 1 - 6
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1996 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Prouty, R.W. Helicopter Performance, Stability and Control, 2nd Edition, Krieger, Malabar, 1990, pp 142–146.Google Scholar
2. Airworthiness Review of Air Command Gyroplanes, Air Accidents Investigation Branch Report, September 1991.Google Scholar
3. British Civil Airworthiness Requirements, Section T, Light Gyroplane Design Requirements, CAA Paper No T 860 Issue 2, July 1993.Google Scholar
4. Glauert, H. A general theory of the autogyro, ARC Reps and Memoranda No 1111, November 1926.Google Scholar
5. Lock, C.N.H. Further development of autogyro theory Parts I and II, ARC Reps and Memoranda No 1127, March 1927.Google Scholar
6. Glauert, H. Lift and torque of an autogyro on the ground, ARC Reps and Memoranda No 1131, July 1927.Google Scholar
7. Lock, C.N.H. and Townend, H.C.H. Wind tunnel experiments on a model autogyro at small angles of incidence, ARC Rep and Memoranda No 1154, March 1927.Google Scholar
8. Glauert, H. and Lock, C.N.H. A summary of the experimental and theoretical investigations of the characteristics of an autogyro, ARC Rep and Memoranda No 1162, April 1928.Google Scholar
9. Wheatley, J.B. Wing pressure distribution and rotor-blade motion of an autogyro as determined in flight, NACA TR 475, 1933.Google Scholar
10. Wheatley, J.B. An aerodynamic analysis of the autogyro rotor with a comparison between calculated and experimental results, NACA TR487, 1934.Google Scholar
11. Wheatley, J.B. and HOOD, M.J. Full-scale wind-tunnel tests of a PCA-2 autogyro rotor, NACA TR 515, 1935.Google Scholar
12. Wheatley, J.B. An analytical and experimental study of the effect of periodic blade twist on the thrust, torque and flapping motion of an autogyro rotor, NACA TR 591, 1937.Google Scholar
13. Schad, J.L. Small Autogyro Performance, J American Helicopter Society, 10, 1965.Google Scholar
14. McKillip, R.M. and Chih, M.H. Instrumented blade experiments using a light autogyro, Proceedings of the 16th European Rotorcraft Forum, Glasgow, Scotland, September 1990.Google Scholar
15. Padfield, G.D. On the use of approximate models in helicopter flight mechanics, Vertica, 5, (3), 1981 Google Scholar
16. Bramwell, A.R.S. Helicopter Dynamics, Arnold, London, 1976, pp 196–209.Google Scholar
17. Houston, S.S. Validation of a non-linear individual blade rotorcraft flight dynamics model using a perturbation method, Aeronaut J, Aug/Sept 1994, 98, (977), pp 260–266.Google Scholar
18. Coton, F.N., Houston, S.S. and Thomson, D.G. The aerodynamics of gyroplanes, CAA Contract No 7D/S/1125 Phase 2 Progress Report, June 1994.Google Scholar