Optimal cruise performance of a conventional helicopter

Abstract

This article presents an analytical framework for investigating the cruise performance of conventional helicopter configurations. Starting from the analysis of power required in straight-and-level flight, endurance and range performance of turbine- and battery-powered rotorcraft are considered, for which it is assumed that fuel consumption and constant-power battery discharge models are, respectively, made available. The original contributions of the article are represented by (a) a closed-form formulation for expected endurance and range for both classes of vehicles, where electrical helicopters have not been dealt with in previous studies and (b) the analytical derivation of an accurate estimate for best endurance and best range airspeeds as a function of relevant system parameters. The approach is validated by analyzing two reference helicopters, showing good physical insight and better accuracy with respect to other techniques available in the literature, for the identification of an energy-efficient cruise flight strategy.