PROPELLER DESIGIN AND ANALYSIS FOR PEDAL DRIVEN AND OTHER ODD AIRCRAFT

Abstract

A simple theory of the lifting line type has been developed for the design of high efficiency rotors (propellors and horizontal axis windmilis), the prediction of their off-design performance, and the performance of arbitrary rotors generally. Although the design calculations can be carried out with a pocket scientific calculator, the off-design and arbitrary rotor performance calculations are more conveniently performed with a small programable digital computer. A F0RTRAN IV code named HELICE, which will run on a PDP 10/11 computer, has been written at M.I.T. by Mrs. Susan French for this purpose. This paper discusses the algorithms used in HELICE and its application to the design and performance prediction of propellers for: 1. a Wakefield class rubber model; 2. a powered hang glider; 3. a self-launching sailplane; and 4. a pedal driven airplane. An earlier version of this procedure was used to design propellers for M.I.T.'s 'Chrysalis' and Paul MacCready's 'Gossamer Albatross'  human-powered aircraft.