Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Full-scale rotorcraft aerodynamics are challenging to study in the field due to the lack of control over ambient conditions as well as the complexity of operating a full-scale vehicle.
An alternative approach being explored at Penn State uses small models in a highly compressed air environment to achieve flight-relevant aerodynamics. Results will be presented regarding the performance scaling in hover and axial climb for the NASA Dragonfly single rigid rotor geometry. The utility of compressed air testing is demonstrated by the relative ease of achieving operationally relevant scales (Reynolds numbers) using a single, physically smaller model geometry.
This project is supported by the Penn State Vertical Lift Center of Excellence (Director: Dr. Ed Smith).
Dr. Mark A. Miller’s research at Penn State focusses on the fundamental fluid dynamics of unsteady and rotating systems by using a multifaceted experimental and theoretical approach. Ongoing projects span a wide range of fluid systems including multi-rotor electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) performance and acoustic characterization, wind turbine aerodynamics and acoustics, turbulent structure modifications due to roughness, and development of innovative sensor systems which are tailored to these specific flow regimes. He is an active member of the American Physical Society, the AIAA, where he serves on the Fluid Dynamics Technical Committee, and the Vertical Flight Society, where he serves on the Test and Evaluation Committee.
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Are you interested in drones, helicopters, advanced rotorcraft and/or electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft? Are you having a hard time keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of the Advanced Air Mobility and Urban Air Mobility industry? Confused as to what eVTOL, VTOL, STOL, UAM, UAS, AAM, UTM… is and how it will impact you? Are you looking for serious facts and discussions concerning innovation and technology in the aerospace, rotorcraft, eVTOL, and helicopter industries? Search no more. The Vertical Flight Society is your global one-stop-shop for staying up-to-date and informed on all things vertical flight in this rapidly changing technological space.
Check out the Vertical Flight Society’s website at: vtol.org
Subscribe to all things Vertical Flight Society and vertical lift on YouTube at: youtube.com/user/VTOLSociety?sub_confirmation=1
#vtolsociety #helicopter #rotorcraft #VTOL #verticalflight
Looking for something specific? Check out these handy links:
• Membership: vtol.org/membership
• Vertiflite Magazine: vtol.org/vertiflite
• Press Releases: vtol.org/press-releases
• Technical Library: vtol.org/library
• eVTOL News: https://evtol.news
• Vertipedia: vertipedia.vtol.org
• Gallery: gallery.vtol.org
____________________________________________________________________________
VFS SOCIAL MEDIA
Stay up-to-date and in the know while on the go. Like and follow VFS on social media:
Facebook
• facebook.com/VTOLsociety
• facebook.com/electricVTOL
LinkedIn
• linkedin.com/company/vtolsociety
• linkedin.com/groups/3922985 (private group)
Twitter
• twitter.com/VTOLsociety
• twitter.com/ElectricVTOL
• twitter.com/DiversiFlite
Full-scale rotorcraft aerodynamics are challenging to study in the field due to the lack of control over ambient conditions as well as the complexity of operating a full-scale vehicle.
An alternative approach being explored at Penn State uses small models in a highly compressed air environment to achieve flight-relevant aerodynamics. Results will be presented regarding the performance scaling in hover and axial climb for the NASA Dragonfly single rigid rotor geometry. The utility of compressed air testing is demonstrated by the relative ease of achieving operationally relevant scales (Reynolds numbers) using a single, physically smaller model geometry.
This project is supported by the Penn State Vertical Lift Center of Excellence (Director: Dr. Ed Smith).
Dr. Mark A. Miller’s research at Penn State focusses on the fundamental fluid dynamics of unsteady and rotating systems by using a multifaceted experimental and theoretical approach. Ongoing projects span a wide range of fluid systems including multi-rotor electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) performance and acoustic characterization, wind turbine aerodynamics and acoustics, turbulent structure modifications due to roughness, and development of innovative sensor systems which are tailored to these specific flow regimes. He is an active member of the American Physical Society, the AIAA, where he serves on the Fluid Dynamics Technical Committee, and the Vertical Flight Society, where he serves on the Test and Evaluation Committee.
=================================================
Are you interested in drones, helicopters, advanced rotorcraft and/or electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft? Are you having a hard time keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of the Advanced Air Mobility and Urban Air Mobility industry? Confused as to what eVTOL, VTOL, STOL, UAM, UAS, AAM, UTM… is and how it will impact you? Are you looking for serious facts and discussions concerning innovation and technology in the aerospace, rotorcraft, eVTOL, and helicopter industries? Search no more. The Vertical Flight Society is your global one-stop-shop for staying up-to-date and informed on all things vertical flight in this rapidly changing technological space.
Check out the Vertical Flight Society’s website at: vtol.org
Subscribe to all things Vertical Flight Society and vertical lift on YouTube at: youtube.com/user/VTOLSociety?sub_confirmation=1
#vtolsociety #helicopter #rotorcraft #VTOL #verticalflight
Looking for something specific? Check out these handy links:
• Membership: vtol.org/membership
• Vertiflite Magazine: vtol.org/vertiflite
• Press Releases: vtol.org/press-releases
• Technical Library: vtol.org/library
• eVTOL News: https://evtol.news
• Vertipedia: vertipedia.vtol.org
• Gallery: gallery.vtol.org
____________________________________________________________________________
VFS SOCIAL MEDIA
Stay up-to-date and in the know while on the go. Like and follow VFS on social media:
• facebook.com/VTOLsociety
• facebook.com/electricVTOL
• linkedin.com/company/vtolsociety
• linkedin.com/groups/3922985 (private group)
• twitter.com/VTOLsociety
• twitter.com/ElectricVTOL
• twitter.com/DiversiFlite
