Recent Research on the Arc Wing VTOL

William D. Bertelsen, son of Dr. Bertelsen devised a series of tests designed to determine in more detail some characteristics of the Arc Wing.  The essence of the experiment was to  clamp the wing tips to a tubular spar, and then allowing the wing/spar assembly to rotate freely in the slipstream of a 30-inch-diameter pedestal fan. By this means, the wing could be seen to assume a stable equilibrium (or not). If so, it was then possible to determine the stable angle of attack (trim point), using the center-section airfoil chord line as the reference.

Below is much more detailed information about this important ongoing work.

 Preliminary Investigation of Arc Wing Pitch Characteristics

by William D. Bertelsen

This information was presented to:

The AIAA 5th Conference on Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations
Hyatt Regency Crystal City, VA
September 26-28, 2005

This is a 54 page PDF document. 

Videos of the research discussed in the above document. The page numbers from the PDF document referencing each video are given. The movies are in Real Player format.

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Some of the movies include narration by William D. Bertelsen.

Page 27 - Video 2428 Arc Wing Pitch Stability, Angle of Attack +5 degrees   Broadband Streaming Broadband Download Dial-Up Streaming Page 28 - Video 1855 Arc Wing Pitch Stability, Angle of Attack +20 degrees   Broadband Streaming Broadband Download Dial-Up Streaming Page 29 - Video 1737 Arc Wing Pitch Stability, Angle of Attack +55 and +33 degrees   Broadband Streaming Broadband Download Dial-Up Streaming Page 30 - Video 1810 Arc Wing Pitch Stability, Angle of Attack +36 and +62 degrees   Broadband Streaming Broadband Download Dial-Up Streaming Page 31 - Video 1829 Arc Wing Pitch Stability, Angle of Attack +72 degrees   Broadband Streaming Broadband Download Dial-Up Streaming Page 44 -Video 3222 Test of Arc Wing Active Incidence Control System: Side View   Broadband Streaming Broadband Download Dial-Up Streaming Page 45 -Video 3264 Test of Arc Wing Active Incidence Control System: Overhead View Broadband Streaming Broadband Download Dial-Up Streaming

Laying the Groundwork for the Design of an Affordable 300-kt STOL

by William D. Bertelsen

This paper was presented to:

The American Helicopter Society
62nd AnnualForum
Phoenix, AZ
May 9-11, 2006

This is a 14 page PDF document. 

 

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Western Michigan University (WMU) 2005 Wind Tunnel Research on the Arc Wing Design - Formal Paper (80 page PDF document) 

Courtesy of Dr. Tianshu Liu and the students of the

Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering,

Western Michigan University,

Kalamazoo, Michigan  USA

This senior's thesis in 2005 investigates the properties of the Arc Wing and verifies important advantages of this wing shape. Below is the accompanying slide show presentation of this research.

Western Michigan University (WMU) 2005 Wind Tunnel Research on the Arc Wing Design - Slide Show (33 page PDF document)