Maker Aircraft Passes Bench Tests, NVH, Laminar Flow Analysis

Archer's wind tunnel testing of the propulsion systems used on the Maker aircraft have been completed, bringing full production one step closer to fruition. 

The Maker has plenty of testing to go, with the recent regimen aimed primarily at evaluating a full-scale motor and propeller system for the aircraft's forward pivoting props. 

The aft propellers were also a target of interest, as well as the interplay of their fixed position relative to the pivoting motors up front. The tests were first conducted off-aircraft, gauging the propeller performance across its operating envelope. This real-world analysis helped to sort out possible edge cases that could cause greater problems down the line, generating a plethora of data pertaining to thrust and torque forces, pitching and yawing moments, hub vibration levels, and aerodynamic efficiency. 

Archer followed up on the bench tests with further work in the wind tunnel that mounted the motors to a full-scale boom and wing section. The varied interaction of air around the fuselage, wings, and props was analyzed for all manner of in-flight effects, carefully scrutinized for any future headaches that could be prevented when noticed at the current stage of development. Archer says that after several "exciting days of Natural Laminar Flow testing" that thermographically checked the flow of air and heat transfer for the wings and boom in flight. The varied flight profile of the Maker adds another level of complexity to its operation, like all VTOL aircraft, but Archer feels confident that they can crack the code. 

FMI: www.archer.com