MIT: Independent Activities Period: IAP

IAP 2013



Bell Helicopter Textron Short Course: An Introduction to Rotorcraft

David B. Smith, Chief Engineer, New Product Development

Jan/31 Thu 01:00PM-05:00PM 33-419
Feb/01 Fri 09:00AM-02:00PM 33-419

Enrollment: Advance sign-up strongly encouraged. See contact.
Sign-up by 01/28
Attendance: Repeating event, particpants welcome at any session
Prereq: None

The helicopter possesses a unique capability unlike any fixed wing counterpart.  Long ago, physics determined that vertical lift would face enormous challenges.  As proof, consider that a commercially certified helicopter (first introduced by Bell) arrived almost 50 years after the Wright Brothers’ initial “fixed-wing” flight.  Rotorcraft engineers must resolve daunting issues in stability and control, aerodynamics, dynamics, and performance, while managing weight, cost, and complexity.  Bell Helicopter is the world leader in rotary wing technology, with a military and commercial product line.  Our V-22 Tiltrotor is the world’s fastest rotorcraft and our commercial operations service a world-wide fleet on all continents.  This short course is intended to expose engineers to the fundamental principles that govern the rotor system and will introduce some of the unique challenges faced in rotary wing aircraft development. Students will find the advanced material more interesting by participating in the first session.  Attendance at both sessions is strongly encouraged. 

Presenters from Bell Helicopter include: David B. Smith , Chief Engineer, New Product Development; Mark E. Dreier , Staff Engineer, Preliminary Design; David King , Chief Engineer, 525 Relentless; Matt Hasik , Chief Engineer, V-22 Osprey; Dr. Albert Brand , Director, Flight Technology & Simulation.
 

Co-sponsored by Bell Helicopter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sponsor(s): Aeronautics and Astronautics
Contact: Marie Stuppard, 33-202B, 617 253-2279, MAS@MIT.EDU