Nowadays helicopters are generally reliable flying machines capable of fulfilling missions impossible with fixed-wing aircraft. As Igor Sikorsky said, "If a man is in need of rescue, an airplane can come in and throw flowers on him, and that's just about all. But a direct lift aircraft could come in and save his life." Indeed, whether the helicopter is used in emergencies (for example for saving victims from automobile accidents, shipwrecks earthquakes or fires in high-rise buildings) or as a mean for future transportation, helicopters are actively operating on every continent. 

This course addresses these issues by covering the following topics:

• helicopter performance calculations (use of flow conservation laws to develop analytic expressions for rotor downwash, rotor thrust and power requirements)
• analysis of rotor blades flapping motion
• helicopter flight mechanics simulations including helicopter trimming for a range of flight conditions
• stability of helicopter and response to pilot controls
• examples of typical helicopter aeroelastic instabilities
• environmental and attitude analysis of rotorcraft

Students will participate actively in this course using discussion boards on actual topics related to rotorcraft industry. The students on campus can fly SIMONA simulator at Delft University testing themselves the “burdens” of flying helicopters.

Assessment

During the course you will answer different quizzes and complete one final assignment consisting of performance calculations and flight dynamics simulation for a helicopter at your choice flying a pre-selected maneuver. These will be handed in digitally through the Electronic Learning Environment.

Certification

If you successfully complete this online course you will be awarded with a TU Delft certificate.

This certificate will state that you are registered as a non-degree-seeking student at TU Delft and successfully completed the course. The certificate will also indicate the number of ECTS credits this course is equal to (3 ECTS) when this course is taken as part of a degree program at the university.

If you decide that you would like to apply to the full Master's program in Aerospace Engineering, you will need to go through the admission process as a regular MSc student. If you are admitted, you can then request an exemption for this course that you completed as a non-degree-seeking student. The Board of Examiners will evaluate your request and will decide whether or not you are exempted.

General admission to this course

Required prior knowledge

• A relevant BEng or BSc degree in a subject closely related to the content of the course or specialized program in question, such as aerospace engineering, aeronautical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering or (applied) physics.
• If you do not meet these requirements because you do not have a relevant Bachelor's degree but you have a Bachelor's degree from a reputable institution and you think you have sufficient knowledge and experience to complete the course, you are welcome to apply, stating your motivation and reasons for admission. The faculty of aerospace engineering will decide whether you will be admitted based on the information you have provided. Appeal against this decision is not possible.

Expected prior knowledge
In addition to the entry requirements mentioned above, prior knowledge of the topic is necessary in order to complete this course. For admission purposes, TU Delft will not ask you for proof of this prior knowledge, but it is your responsibility to ensure that you have the sufficient knowledge, obtained through relevant work experience or prior education.

To view the essential background knowledge, please check your knowledge against the learning objectives of these comparable TU Delft courses:

• basic knowledge of aerodynamics and flight dynamics

Expected Level of English
English is the language of instruction for this online course. If your working language is not English or you have not participated in an educational program in English in the past, please ensure that your level of proficiency is sufficient to follow the course. TU Delft recommends an English level equivalent to one of the following certificates (given as an indication only; the actual certificates are not required for the admission process):

• TOEFL score 90+ (this is an internet-based test)
• IELTS (academic version) overall Band score of at least 6.5
• University of Cambridge: "Certificate of Proficiency in English" or "Certificate in Advanced English"

Admission process

In order to complete your admission process you will be asked to upload the following documents:

• a CV which describes your educational and professional background (in English)
• a copy of your passport or ID card
• a copy of relevant transcripts and diplomas

If you have any questions about this course or the TU Delft online learning environment, please visit our Help & Support page.