ABBREVIATED FULL-SCALE FLIGHT TEST INVESTIGATION OF THE LOCKHEED L1011 TRAILING VORTEX SYSTEM USING TOWER FLY-BY TECHNIQUE

A brief flight test program was conducted at the National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center (NAFEC) to investigate the time-history characteristics of the vortex system of a Lockheed L1011 airplane in terminal area-type operations using a 140-foot high instrumented tower. Vortex rotational flow velocities were measured by hot-film anemometers, vortex flow visualization--as outlined by tower-mounted smoke granades--was deocumented, and meteorological data was recorded. In addition, data on aircraft track, performance, and configuration were gathered. The test results show that: (1) the L1011 vortex system was more persistent and intense than that of other heavy jet transport (300,000 lb) aircraft tested by NAFEC, but did not persist for more than 2 minutes; (2) vortex dissipation was due primarily to vortex breakdown (bursting); (3) vortex core diameters were on the average about 5, 4, and 2 feet in diameter for the landing, approach, and takeoff configurations, respectively; (4) peak recorded tangential velocities, were 126, 135, and 224 feet per second for these same respective configurations; (5) vortex lateral movement in-ground effect was approximately (pi/6.6)b, above ground level; and (6) average vortex descent velocities approached 6 feet per second out of ground effect. Color illustrations reproduced in black and white.

• Corporate Authors:

  NATIONAL AVIATION FACILITIES EXPERIMENTAL CENTER

  ATLANTIC CITY, NJ  United States 

  Federal Aviation Administration

  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Authors:
  • Garodz, L J
• Publication Date: 1976-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 234 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Civil aircraft; Flight tests; Flow visualization; Landing; Overpasses; Takeoff; Turbulence; Vortices
• Old TRIS Terms: Aircraft landing; Flyby; Trailing vortices
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00143005
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FAA-NA-75-14, FAA-AFS-1-76-2
• Files: NTIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 6 2002 12:00AM