[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 1 - 09:33:37 ]
At the conclusion of today's chat, you will have an opportunity to give us feedback about it. We encourage you to take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by responding to our QuestChat Feedback survey at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats/qchat-surveys. Your responses, comments and suggestions will help us with future chats. We hope to hear from you!

[ Bruce-D.E.Carlisle/CarlisleAlternative - 5 - 09:59:40 ]
Hello.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 6 - 09:59:57 ]
Hello and welcome to today's Aerospace Team Online chat with Brent Wellman from NASA Ames Research Center! Brent works with a computer program called the Second-Generation Comprehensive Helicopter Analysis System (2GCHAS) to create models of helicopters or similar aircraft. He and other engineers use the computer program to determine solutions to certain conditions they enter into a computer. Brent also manages engineers outside NASA, is learning how to operate a large wind tunnel, and investiages problems that occur within his field of work.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 7 - 10:00:16 ]
And now, here is Brent Wellman to answer your questions.

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 8 - 10:01:38 ]
Hi everyone!

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 10 - 10:03:00 ]
I am trained as a mechanical and aeronautical engineer, as well as software, so I'll be happy to answer your questioons about planes, helicopters and such, not just the computer code.

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 13 - 10:05:32 ]
RE: [Sarah/GreenmeadowSchool] Brent, do you investigate airplane and helicopter crashes?
Not so far. Ground-based accidents (and wind tunnels), only.

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 14 - 10:06:12 ]
RE: [Bruce-D.E.Carlisle/CarlisleAlternative] Hello Mr. Wellman. I was wondering what you did on the V-22 Osprey project? Did you enjoy it?
I was team leader for XV-15 testing here at NASA/Ames. I loved it! The XV-15 was the predecessor to the V-22. I did nothing on the V-22 PROJECT ITSELF.

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 16 - 10:09:00 ]
I guess you've all figured out by now that although I do work with computers all day, I am not a great typist!...

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 19 - 10:11:45 ]
RE: [Sarah/GreenmeadowSchool] Is the 2GCHAS software being used yet?
2GCHAS is being used by all of the major U.S. manufacturers of helicopters (Bell, Boeing, Sikorsky, etc.) and by the U.S. Army. Several universities use it, too. UNLV and Purdue have just asked for copies.

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 21 - 10:13:19 ]
RE: [Bruce-D.E.Carlisle/CarlisleAlternative] What does 2GCHAS do exactly?
2GCHAS is what is called a comprehensive code. It very nearly does everything! If an engineer wants to know it, 2GCHAS must (somehow) provide it!

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 26 - 10:15:59 ]
RE: [KJ-KJ/TallahasseeHomeschoolGroup] I am in 2nd grade,homeschooling. I want to make a flyer. I know I can not make a real plane. So I would like to know how I could make wings that would fly. I know I am young to do this. My mom wants me to try if I want though. Thank you
There are many ways to make wing that fly out of just paper. In fact, kites are wings, and children build them all the time. I have a favorite kind of paper airplane I have made since about your age, and if there is interest, I'll post instructions on the web site, so you all can build it, too.

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 27 - 10:17:27 ]
RE: [Sarah/GreenmeadowSchool] Can your software be used to design tiltrotors?
Yep. It isn't a design code, though. There are other programs for that. 2GCHAS will tell engineers how *well* it will fly.

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 30 - 10:18:53 ]
RE: [Elena-Elena] Hello everyone, Brent What is the fast helicopter thata you know?
The fastest helicopter is a British model known as the Lynx with a special rotor system with BERP (pronounced "burp") tips.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 31 - 10:19:21 ]
RE: [KJ/TallahasseeHomeschoolGroup] I thought Mr. Wellman would say something back. Mr. Oran, how long should it take to get answers back from Mr. Wellman?
KJ, You will need to be patient during the chat as Mr. Wellman answers each question as quickly as he can.

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 32 - 10:20:45 ]
RE: [KJ-KJ/TallahasseeHomeschoolGroup] Could I use a spud gun idea and make it shoot a small plane out instead of a potato?
I don't see why not. I might try attaching a paper cone over the muzzle, so the plane could get a boost from the gun...Good luck, and please practice outdoors.

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 34 - 10:23:19 ]
RE: [Bruce-D.E.Carlisle/CarlisleAlternative] How can 2GCHAS tell an engineer how well an object will fly?
2GCHAS can compute what the airloads are on the rotor blades. Some of those loads lift the rotor and helicopter into the air (LIFT). Other loads (DRAG) place a load on the engine, and tell the engineer how much power it will take to fly (and how big an engine he will need).

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 35 - 10:24:37 ]
RE: [KJ/TallahasseeHomeschoolGroup] Yes please. I would like directions for a GOOD paper airplane. My mom and dad make some, but they are not real good. If you were me and wanted to learn more about flight and what makes things fly, what would you do?
I'd read a lot. Read all the books you can find on airplanes and science.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 36 - 10:24:51 ]
As a reminder, we ask that you let us know what you thought of today's chat by using our online forms at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats/qchat-surveys. Please send your comments to us at the conclusion of today's chat. Thank you.

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 39 - 10:30:17 ]
RE: [Bruce-D.E.Carlisle/CarlisleAlternative] That must be one nice piece of equipment. My sister (Morgan) would like to know: How long have you worked for NASA?
I have been here for 17 years. Still a whipper-snapper compared to others here (One esteemed NASA Ames engineer just celebrated his 80th birthday---by hang gliding in Yosemite!).

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 40 - 10:33:12 ]
RE: [KJ/TallahasseeHomeschoolGroup] In your story about yourself, you said you worked with rockets. Is there something we could make to see cumbastan work that wont cost much money? Does Nasa have anything that teaches that stuff to kids?
NASA is very committed to teaching children about rockets and space. There is a teacher center here at Ames where your teacher could get a lot of cool stuff to teach about air and space. Cheap rockets may be had from Edmund Scientific or Estes Rockets; I used to SLEEP with their catalogs when I was a lad...

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 42 - 10:34:49 ]
RE: [BrentWellman/ARC] NASA is very committed to teaching children about rockets and space. There is a teacher center here at Ames where your teacher could get a lot of cool stuff to teach about air and space. Cheap rockets may be had from Edmund Scientific or Estes Rockets; I used to SLEEP with their catalogs when I was a lad...
There is also an internet newsgroup on model rocketry. You can exchange ideas with other folks who are building and flying rockets.

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 44 - 10:38:18 ]
RE: [Bruce-D.E.Carlisle/CarlisleAlternative] Wow. Do you think that 2GCHAS is the future of areonautics engineering? Is there anything better on the way?
Well, yes, actually. We are working on an enhanced version of 2GCHAS that takes advantage of advances in computer science in the past several years. We don't know at this point if we will call it 2GCHAS (perhaps 3GCHAS, or CHAS2000, or something). Computer programs are the future (heck, they are the PRESENT) of ALL engineering. 2GCHAS is but one of many tools to use.

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 48 - 10:41:25 ]
RE: [BrentWellman/ARC] NASA is very committed to teaching children about rockets and space. There is a teacher center here at Ames where your teacher could get a lot of cool stuff to teach about air and space. Cheap rockets may be had from Edmund Scientific or Estes Rockets; I used to SLEEP with their catalogs when I was a lad...
You should turn to http://www.edmundscientific.com/consumer/index.html after this web chat...

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 49 - 10:41:40 ]
RE: [KJ/TallahasseeHomeschoolGroup] Would you know the URL or email address for model rocketry? I would love that. I am so glad I did this. I never talked in a chat room before. I will come back often to chat with other people when the time comes. I will probably be a scientist some day. At least an engineer like you. Thank you, I need to go now. Thank you Mr. Oran too. Bye!
KJ, thank you for joining us today. Be sure to let us know what you thought about the chat by using our feedback forms at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats/qchat-surveys. Also, you can find out about upcoming chats with other NASA experts at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/common/events. We hope to hear from you online again soon!

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 50 - 10:42:08 ]
RE: [KJ/TallahasseeHomeschoolGroup] Would you know the URL or email address for model rocketry? I would love that. I am so glad I did this. I never talked in a chat room before. I will come back often to chat with other people when the time comes. I will probably be a scientist some day. At least an engineer like you. Thank you, I need to go now. Thank you Mr. Oran too. Bye!
You should turn to http://www.edmundscientific.com/consumer/index.html after this web chat...

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 51 - 10:45:04 ]
RE: [Bruce-D.E.Carlisle/CarlisleAlternative] Are there any other software programs that you use along with 2GCHAS?
I use many tools. I use MATLAB and Mathematica for math modeling. I use Extend for simulation. I use Microsoft Office for mundane stuff. I use several editing and debugging programs to get out my product. In a real sense, I use programs to make programs!

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 54 - 10:47:23 ]
RE: [Sarah/GreenmeadowSchool] Brent what are the hot questions being worked on in helicopter design? I guess noise is one.
You guessed right! Noise is important for military purposes (to get to targets quietly) and to commercial operators (quiet helos can get nearer to offices and the like where they can do the most economic good).

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 58 - 10:50:40 ]
RE: [Sarah/GreenmeadowSchool] Did you ever ride in a helicopter? a tiltrotor?
Many times in a helicopter. The XV-15 was for research, so pilots, only get to go up. I haven't had the opportunity to take a ride in a V-22, yet.

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 59 - 10:52:29 ]
RE: [Bruce-D.E.Carlisle/CarlisleAlternative] Exactly how would the noise that helicopters produce be silenced?
Good question! One you could build a career on. There are several mechanisms that create the noise a helicopter makes. The cures for one noise source tends to make other noise sources worse. It is a VERY difficult problem.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 63 - 10:55:29 ]
As Brent answers your questions during the final minutes of today's chat, we would once again like to remind you to share your thoughts about today's chat with us. Go to http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats/qchat-surveys to use our online feedback forms. You can also find out about upcoming chats with other NASA experts at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/common/events. Check the events page often, since it is update frequently.

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 64 - 10:57:03 ]
RE: [Sarah/GreenmeadowSchool] Does a tilt rotor lose altitude when the rotors tilt?
If you are not careful, yes. Once, while we were testing the XV-15, the pilots attempted to convert to airplane mode from a hover, using just the guts (tiltrotor have LOTS of power--they're hot rods!) to get up to speed. As you might guess, before he got going fast enough, he lost altitude. Fortunately, the area he flew to was downhill, so he landed safely, but not without grass stains on his rotor tips...true story.

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 65 - 10:58:30 ]
RE: [Sarah/GreenmeadowSchool] Why is Ames Research Center the lead for Rotorcraft?
'Cause HQ sez so. Actually, we have a lot of expertise out here that would be difficult for NASA to match elsewhere. It simply makes sense.

[ Sarah/GreenmeadowSchool - 66 - 11:00:16 ]
Thanks for your answers! I learn with each question you answer.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 67 - 11:01:01 ]
RE: [Sarah/GreenmeadowSchool] Thanks for your answers! I learn with each question you answer.
Thank you for joining us today, Sarah.

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 68 - 11:01:40 ]
RE: [Bruce-D.E.Carlisle/CarlisleAlternative] Is art a major part in NASA? If so what else would an artist need to get in??
Have you seen Buzz Aldrin's paintings (he is a pointilist)? Actually, there are proposals to fly a poet or artist on the shuttle. It is thought that such a person can communicate the wonder of space flight better that engineers can. If you want to do that, become the best artist you know how to be, and when the opportunity comes, express an interest...

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 69 - 11:01:55 ]
This concludes today's chat with Brent Wellman from NASA Ames Research Center. Thank you to everyone for joining us today, and a special thanks to Brent Wellman for chatting and sharing his expertise with us!

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 70 - 11:02:24 ]
RE: [Sarah/GreenmeadowSchool] Thanks for your answers! I learn with each question you answer.
Thanks, but I'm no substitute for your lessons...

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 71 - 11:02:49 ]
Please join us on Tuesday, September 15 at 9:30 a.m. for our ADTO chat with Stephen Jaeger from NASA Ames Research Center.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 76 - 11:04:33 ]
RE: [Bruce-D.E.Carlisle/CarlisleAlternative] Thanks a lot! I know I have kept you two longer than I should have. For that I apologize. Anyway, it has been fun! Good bye and good luck!
Bruce, we're happy you could join us today. We'll try to extend our time online with NASA experts in the future. Please join us again!

[ BrentWellman/ARC - 83 - 11:06:07 ]
RE: [Bruce-D.E.Carlisle/CarlisleAlternative] Thanks a lot! I know I have kept you two longer than I should have. For that I apologize. Anyway, it has been fun! Good bye and good luck!
Glad to be here, bye!