All-rounder for aviation research
The BO 105 is a five-seater research helicopter with a rigid four-blade main rotor and a semi-rigid two-blade tail rotor. All of the rotor blades are made of fibreglass-reinforced polymers. The helicopter is powered by two Allison 250-C20 engines. The BO 105 has a broad performance spectrum. The versatile helicopter is used in a wide range of applications such as flight characteristics investigations, thermal imaging, as a carrier for special sensor technology, for investigations into low-noise approach profiles, and development of pilot assistance systems and flights with external loads.
Depending on the requirement, the BO 105 can be fitted with special equipment. This includes, for example, pressure sensors and strain gauges fitted on the main and tail rotor blades for measuring the forces and pressure conditions on the rotor blade.
The following modifications differentiate the BO 105 helicopter from the standard BO 105: On-board computer for recording flight parameters; nose boom for accurate measurement of inflow velocity and direction; instrumented main and tail rotor for measuring forces and pressure conditions on the rotor blade; hard points outside the cabin for payloads such as infrared cameras; IFR cockpit (Instrument Flight Rules; for flying in adverse weather conditions, the so-called Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), which require flying with instruments); LASSIE system (Low Air Speed Sensing and Indicating Equipment; system for accurate measurement of air speed in the lower speed range). In the future, the BO 105 is to be equipped with a comprehensive measurement system for recording flight-relevant parameters.
Links:
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Flight experiments
E-Mail contact-dlr@DLR.de
