Flight Development of the RTM 322 Engine
The RTM 322 engine, under development by Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Ltd, is a viable candidate engine for future incorporation in S-70, H-60, EH101 and NH90 helicopters. An important ingredient in the development of the engine is its flight testing, currently being carried out in a Sikorsky S-70C (Civil version of the U S Army UH60 BLACK HAWK). This has not only served realistically to uncover and correct at very early stages those types of problem common to the development of all new engines but has also equally afforded an early look at installation, control and engine/airframe dynamic characteristics which, of course, will simplify later Production Series incorporation. A brief description of the RTM 322 engine design and its development status is given followed by a summary of the installation and flight testing in the S-70C. Ground and flight test results in the S-70C are discussed and data and photographs presented.