An acoustical study of the XV-15 Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft

Acoustic data were obtained during a full-scale test of the XV-15 Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft in the Ames 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel. The XV-15 has two 25-ft-diameter, three-bladed rotors at the tips of a 32-ft span wing. The rotors are used as lifting rotors, as propellers, and in various intermediate stages. Acoustic waveforms, dBA, and spectra as functions of different rotor conditions are presented and discussed. The noise level was found to be sensitive to change in rotor-disk angle of attack in the helicopter configuration. Much higher noise levels and harmonic contents were found in the helicopter mode than in the airplane mode. The measurements are compared with existing theoretical predictions which include wind-tunnel wall reflections.