Evaluation of Aeronautical Design Standard-33E Cargo Mission Requirements - Flight Tests with a CH-53G -

Abstract

Flight tests with a Sikorsky CH 53G cargo helicopter of the German Army were performed in Germany to evaluate the applicability and repeatability of the Aeronautical Design Standard (ADS)-33E-PRF cargo helicopter mission handling qualities requirements. These requirements were developed from flight tests with a CH-47D, a tandem-rotor cargo helicopter. The objective of the CH-53G tests was not to check the helicopter against ADS 33, but to use it as a testbed to corroborate the findings of the CH-47D tests and identify any fundamental differences or tandem rotor biases. The tests were carried out by the Wehrtechnische Dienststelle (WTD) 61, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and the U.S. Army Aeroflighdynamics Directorate (AMRDEC). Quantitative data were gathered in hover and 100 knots forward flight for all axes. Five test pilots returned Cooper-Harper Handling Quality Ratings (HQRs) for 13 Mission Task Elements (MTEs), flown in Good Visual Environment (GVE), including four with an externally slung load. This paper describes the CH-53G quantitative criteria results and the comparisons with the qualitative results.