V-22%20Osprey%20First%20Flight%20on%20Unpaved%20Surfaces

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V-22 Osprey First Flight on Unpaved Surfaces

• SETP Safety Symposium
• Vienna Austria Nov 10-12, 2009

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PURPOSE OF TEST

• V-22 Landing Gear
• Previous EMD testing only done between 5-20 knots
  on benign surface
• No Testing outside of paved surfaces.
• Small nose gear capabilities unknown.
• User (USMC / AFSOC) desire as much capability as
  possible.
• Tiltrotor has unique capabilities that result in
  a large scope of tests.

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Definitions

• Semi prepared runway operations
• Landing zones/areas where fixed wing aviation
  operations are intended
• Grass strips
• Unpaved/gravel/dirt runways

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Definitions

• Un-prepared field operations
• Landing zones not intended for fixed wing ops but
  may be suitable for a smaller envelope
• Athletic fields
• Agricultural areas
• Cleared LZs/DZs

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Definitions

• STOL
• Short Take Off and Landing
• 60 or 75 Nacelle
• 90 Helicopter Mode
• 60 for Heavy GW
• 75 for Tactical Mid GW
• Can increase take off capability by up to 5000 lbs

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Test Methodology

• Fixed Step Obstacle Test
• Grass Field Testing
• Taxi/STO/ROL
• 46K, 49.5K, 52.6K
• Semi-prepared Field Testing (CBR 20)
• Taxi/STO/ROL
• 46K, 52.6K, 57K
• Un-prepared Field Testing (CBR 7.5-20)
• Taxi/STO/ROL
• 46K, 49.5K, 52.6K

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Identify Risks

• Structural Failure
• Excessive Loads
• Airfield not to specified values
• Loss of Situational Awareness
• Brown out / DUCE
• Loss of Directional Control
• Hard Landing
• FOD
• Blown Tires

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Risk Mitigation

• Build up
• Gross Weight
• Ground Speed
• Brown out considerations
• Build down
• CBR
• Higher CBR harder field (CBR 20)
• Lower CBR softer field (CBR 7.5 20)

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Test Preparation

• Pre-test Training
• Engineer training with MAWTS-1 AGS
• DCP training
• Airfield assessment
• US Army Engineering Research and Development
  Center
• Test plan review
• Site survey DCP data review
• Computer analysis/predictions/model correlation

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Test Preparation

• C-17 SPRO Testing
• Engine FOD damage due to reverse thrust
• LG damage due to short landing
• Runway deterioration due to max braking
• Avionic fans dust ingestion
• Testing on going at multiple off-sites to
  evaluate multiple surface types/conditions

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Test Preparation

• C-130J Testing
• Similar to C-17 LL
• Erosion of underside of AC and antennas
• FOD APU/Engines
• Brown out on deceleration
• Runway deterioration

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Test Preparation

• MV-22 Austere Ops Testing
• VTOL landings in DUCE
• Maintenance Issues
• FOD
• AVIONICS FILTERS
• GEAR BOX TEMPS
• POST FLIGHT REQUIREMENTS

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Fixed Step Bump Testing

• AM-2 Matting
• Shimmed to 2 and 4
• Anchored to runway
• GW 46K, 52.6K 57K
• GS 10-70 (/- 5 KGS)
• 1600-2400 ft remaining after bump

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(No Transcript)
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Fixed Step Bump Testing
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NLG DSRA LOAD 22 Knots
Alert -Compression Exceedance
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Semi Prepared Austere Eval

• 25 to 35 knots required to touchdown with no
  brown out

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Semi-Prepared LZ

• High CBR 25-100
• Very low loads on all structural components

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C-17 STO Video
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C-17 ROL Video
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Unprepared DZ
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10 Knot 49K LB GW
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What Happened?
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Airfield Post Collapse Survey
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Lessons Learned

• Unprepared surfaces have features that are not
  identifiable by standard surveys
• Flight test requires very specific conditions
• Onsite subject matter experts can be valuable
• Full scale structures tests (load cart with
  landing gear) in controlled environments can
  reduce problems down the road
• Despite all the planning in world, Flight Test is
  Unpredictable and Risky!!