Indoor power testing
Electric power system test using propellers to generate thrust. While propellers provide excellent static thrust and acceleration, their efficiency is limited by the velocity they produce, which necessitates positioning them closer to the rotor shaft, reducing their overall propulsive efficiency. In this test, the direction of the propeller rotation was reversed, causing the propeller vortex to spin counter to the rotor blade vortices. This adjustment resulted in a slight reduction in the power required to maintain hover. The Thrust Drive System converts the thrust generated by a jet engine, ducted fan, or propeller into usable rotor shaft torque to power the helicopter’s rotor blades.