Rotorcraft operating with external loads significantly reduce the operational flight envelope as a result of handling quality deficiencies and coupled aircraft-pilot-load instabilities, compared with aircraft carrying loads internally. This project will take a holistic view of this problem area and investigate new ways of operating with external loads and control concepts to alleviate the problems and ensure safe handling across a wide flight envelope.

The project will involve extensive modelling of coupled dynamic systems with elastic components using state-of-the-art software packages (e.g. FLIGHTLAB, Simulink), control law development and testing in flight simulation on the HELIFLIGHT facility at Liverpool.