Investigation Methodology of Helicopter – Ship Aerodynamic Compatibility
Authors: Zamyatin A.N., Grigoryev M.A.
Published in issue: #5(173)/2026
Category: Aviation and Rocket-Space Engineering | Chapter: Aerodynamics and Heat Transfer Processes in Aircrafts
The use of helicopters on seagoing vessels equipped with a helipad has its own specific features related to the limited size of the ship helipad, as well as the presence of ship pitching. The ship superstructures significantly change the parameters of the incoming airflow, forming a complex structure of the resulting airflow above the helipad. In this regard, the issues of ensuring that the rotor blades of helicopters with coaxial rotors (“Ka” family helicopters) do not overlap in the rotor rotation modes before taking off from the ship helipad and in the rotor stopping modes after landing are of great importance. This paper shows that for the safe operation of helicopters on ships in these modes, it is necessary to ensure the aerodynamic compatibility of the helicopter and the vessel. The article describes the methodology for assessing the aerodynamic compatibility of a helicopter and a vessel, developed at JSC “M.M. Gromov FRI” basing on a rational combination of proven field testing techniques and numerical methods for calculating airflow past vessel. Examples of characteristic airflow patterns over helipads, obtained in real field conditions, which affect the safety of takeoff and landing operations, are given, and it is presented a methodology for determining the conditions under which the safety of these modes is ensured.
EDN VAWFDP
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