Wind Tunnel Tests of Damage to the Tu-154M Aircraft Wing

Wind tunnel experimental tests were performed to investigate the influence of the damage to the Tu-154M aircraft wing on its aerodynamic performance. The wing damage concerned the detachment of one-third of the aircraft left wing and the loss of the left slat and flap and the loss of the left outer wing. The presented research referred to the Polish government aircraft Tu-154M disaster near the Smolensk airdrome on October 4, 2010, and one of the hypotheses about its causes. The experimental investigation was carried out in the Institute of Aviation low speed wind tunnel T-1 with a 1.5 m diameter test section at the ${\mathrm{V}}_{\infty }=40\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{s}$. The Tu-154M aircraft model at the $1:40$ scale was used. Aircraft aerodynamic characteristics were obtained by balance measurements. Wind tunnel tests showed that the damage of the aircraft left wing results in the appearance of the aircraft rolling moment of a significant value. The investigation proved that in the case of one-third wingtip loss there were opportunities to balance the aircraft flight by simultaneous aileron (at 20°) and spoiler deflection (at 45°) on the right wing or by putting the aircraft into a sideslip.