Installation effects on performance of multiple model V/STOL lift fans.
The location and appendages of a lift fan on a V/STOL aircraft are expected to have a measurable effect on fan performance. To study such installation effects, an experimental program was performed in which the individual performance of multiple VTOL model lift fans was measured. The model tested consisted of three 13.97-cm diameter tip-turbine driven model VTOL lift fans mounted chordwise in a two-dimensional wing to simulate a pod-type array. The performance data provided significant insight into possible thrust variations and losses caused by the presence of cover doors, adjacent fuselage panels, and adjacent fans. The effect of a partial loss of drive air supply on fan performance was also investigated.