A new inclining flight mode and oblique takeoff technique for a tiltrotor aircraft

Abstract

A new tiltrotor inclining flight mode is presented in the study. Based on this mode, an optimized tiltrotor oblique takeoff technique is designed to improve the flight performance and efficiency in tiltrotor's takeoff operation. First, the proposed inclining flight mode is built through the dynamics analysis of the tiltrotor and related maneuver design and that makes the tiltrotor able to fly along an oblique path with its body line parallel to the flying direction. Then, with this new mode, a tiltrotor oblique takeoff technique and related control program are devised. Third, the shape of takeoff path in the oblique takeoff operation is studied, and an optimized oblique curved path is introduced to further improve the tiltrotor flight performance and efficiency. Simulations are conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the designed inclining flight mode and implemented oblique takeoff procedure in a set of different takeoff paths. It is found that the tiltrotor's flight performance and efficiency are significantly improved in terms of both required takeoff time and energy consumption. Finally, flight tests corresponding to the simulation work are conducted, that prove the effectiveness of the newly designed inclining flight mode and oblique takeoff technique.