The Influence of Wing Setting on the Wing Load and Rotor Speed of a PCA-2 Autogiro as Determined in Flight

Flight tests were made on PCA-2 autogiro with wing settings of 2.2°, 0.9°, and -0.5°. The wing load and rotor speed were measured in steady glides. The results obtained show that a wide variation in rotor speed as a function of air speed can be obtained by a suitable adjustment of the wing setting; that by decreasing the wing setting the upper safe flying speed, determined by the decrease in rotor speed, is greatly increased; and that the interference of the wing on the rotor thrust and lift coefficients is negligible. The prediction of autogiro wing loads is assisted by the data given in this paper.