THE UK DEFENCE Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) has opened a hover-test building at its Farnborough, UK, headquarters. The unit is designed for testing advanced-model rotors at representative thrust values and out of ground effect. The test rig is positioned on a 3.5m-high platform in the centre of the 18.3 x 15.4m test hall. Controllable vents have been installed at ceiling and floor levels to allow air to enter the building above the rotor and downwash to exit at floor level. The research agency says that experimental work will be carried out to "...improve our understanding of phenomena such as blade-vortex interaction, which has a significant effect on blade loads and acoustic noise".
Source: Flight International