Experimental and numerical results obtained for a scaled RPV and a full size aircraft

This paper describes a series of tests of remotely piloted vehicles (RPV) and full scale aircraft from which most of the performance information and selected dynamic characteristics normally required for aircraft operation can be obtained. The main goal of the paper is to compare corresponding characteristics of RPVs and full scale aircraft and establish if RPV testing can help and influence an early stage design project in order to optimise its aerodynamic configuration and predict its static and dynamic characteristics. This paper presents basic similarity transformations, including mass scale, force scale, power scale, linear acceleration scale, Reynolds number scale etc. as functions of linear scale. It was found that tests in steady conditions are difficult to perform, time-consuming, and do not offer significant advantages over the classical wind tunnel tests. RPV tests in unsteady conditions are much easier to perform and quite accurate.