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Aviation History
1994
1994 - 0015.PDF
DEFENCE Comanche streamlining detailed Boeing and Sikorsky have briefed the US Army on proposals to streamline the RAH-66 Comanche scout/ attack-helicopter development programme to save almost S270 million by 2000. The first Comanche prototype is due to fly in late 1995 and service entry is planned for 2003. The proposed streamlining would merge the current dem onstration/validation (dem/val) effort into the subsequent engi neering and manufacturing de velopment (EMD) phase and would reduce from six to four the number of prototype air craft used in the combined development phase. Reducing the number of proto types and implementing pro gressive reviews rather than having discrete milestones would save $90 million in de velopment costs, Comanche programme officials estimate. The cut in the number of fly ing prototypes would be offset by increased use of simulation. The Comanche team com pleted its final critical design review (CDR) in December, clearing the way for assembly of the three YRAH-66 proto types which are planned for the dem/val phase. The weapon-system CDR, following final reviews of the airframe and avionics, "...iden tified no significant issues in Comanche development", ac cording to the team. Under the streamlining plan, the Comanche's empty weight would be increased to reduce risk and the likely number of design changes, saving an esti mated $10 million. Other projected development cost savings include: • $50-70 million by combin ing preliminary flight-rating and qualification testing of the AlliedSignal/Allison T800 growth engine; • $50-60 million by moving immediately to the EMD stage on the Martin Marietta electro- optical sensor system; • $20 million by using new technology and "best commer cial practices" in the Coman che integrated training system; • $10 million by eliminating redundant testing, and substi tuting ground tests or simula tions for certain flight tests; • $10 million by reducing or eliminating programme re views, performance reports and data submissions and improv ing risk management; • more than $30 million by retaining contractor logistic support and spares supply for the first three productions lots. Other proposals cover leav ing development of the Westinghouse/Martin Marietta Longbow mast-mounted radar exclusively with the McDonnell Douglas AH-64D Apache pro gramme. Installation on the Comanche would be delayed from the first production lot to the third. • Saab modifies Gripen software update Saab has been forced to modify the most recent flight-control software update on the JAS39 Gripen to im prove low-level and low-speed, handling, following the loss of a second aircraft. The modifications follow the recommendations of the Swed ish Government Accident In vestigation Board into the 8 August, 1993, crash of the sec ond production JAS39. They are designed to create a "softer" response from pilot inputs to the flight-control system via the control stick. The digital flight-control sys tem's software has also been further modified to prevent events such as pilot-induced oscillations (PIO) because of inadvertent over-controlling of the aircraft. The modified flight-control software is being installed on all five of the JAS39 flight-test aircraft in a bid to minimise Modified Gripen fighters are close to resuming flight-testing any delay caused by the acci dent and the subsequent inves tigation. Flight tests resumed on 29 December, 1993, with a flight lasting 45 min. The final report of the board says: "The accident was caused by an imbalance in the flight- control system. The imbalance allowed the pilot to apply con trol commands that did not give the elevons sufficient time to produce the expected re sponse from the aircraft." The report says that the re sulting time delays led to a combined PIO in roll and pitch axes, adding that "...the flight control system was unable to limit the command signals". JAS39 deliveries to the Swed ish air force are due to resume at the beginning of the second quarter of 1994. The Swedish Defence Mate riel Administration says: "It will be possible to deliver the JAS39 Gripen to air force units without any major changes in present time schedules." • NEWS IN BRIEF FLANKERS REDEPLOY The Russian air force is to remove its Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker-equipped 641st Guards fighter regiment from the Novaya Zemlya arctic ar chipelago, most likely to Amderma, on the northern Russian mainland. Amderma is the main base for the Ber- iev A-50 Mainstay airborne early-warning and control air craft. The decision by defence minister Gen Pavel Grachev to move the Su-27s was driven mainly by the high cost of maintaining the base. The main role of the Su-27s was to intercept USAF cruise- missile-armed bombers. LITENING FLIGHT Israeli defence-electronics specialist Rafael is to begin flight-testing of its Litening infra-red/laser-designator pod on a Lockheed F-16 shortly. The pod is 2.08m long and weighs 20kg. On offer to the Israeli air force, the pod has also been put forward to meet a Singaporean air force requirements on F-16s. UAV SUCCESS Bell Helicopter Textron has completed helicopter-mode flight-testing of the Eagle Eye tilt-rotor unmanned air vehi cle (UAV). The vertical take- off-and-landing aircraft will be shipped to Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona, in January to continue flight demonstra tions, including conversions to aircraft mode. Bell flew the Eagle Eye for 3.5h, complet ing 14 sorties, including 36 landings. Manoeuvres accom plished included manual and automatic hover, horizontal translations, climbs to 120ft (35m) and 360° turns at 357s in a 15kt (27km/h) wind. HONEYWELL ON C-130J Lockheed has selected Hon eywell Defense Avionics Sys tems to supply the communi cation/navigation/identifica tion management system for the C-130J Hercules II. The agreement includes produc tion options for 120 shipsets. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 5-11 January. 1994 13
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