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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 1243.PDF
DEFENCE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT STEWART PENNEY/STANS PC-21 poised for next test phase Swiss manufacturer addresses design issues and prepares to wrap up second set of trials with hot-weather flights Pilatus is preparing for the final ele ments of the second phase of the PC-21 flight-test programme, with the next step in the four-part pro gramme for the turboprop- powered trainer to begin in July. Kevin Smith, Pilatus managing director strategic projects, says since the PC-21's first flight last July the aircraft has clocked up more than 125h. Swiss FOCA civil aviation authority certification is planned for December next year, he adds. Smith says phase two testing has concentrated on envelope expan sion, proof of design and problem identification. Phase three will test fixes and tune the aircraft, he adds, while phase four next year will con centrate on certification. The second aircraft, which will be production representative, will also fly in 2004. Some issues have been addressed, including raising the floor in the rear cockpit and a rudder change, both implemented during down periods caused by bad weather. None of the issues "are outside the 'tuneability' or adjustment of the system - we don't need to remanufacture parts", says Smith. Also in the next few weeks Pilatus will equip aircraft P01 with a head-up display, while the naviga tion system will also be upgraded. The aircraft has an an attitude and heading reference system, as Pilatus was "let down badly by BAE [Systems]", which was to have sup plied a GPS-satellite/inertial naviga tion system, says Smith. Pilatus chief test pilot Andreas Ramseier says a 10-flight spin pro gramme and initial hot-weather tri als in Grenada, Spain, will be com pleted in June as Phase 2 concludes. Ramseier says Phase 3 will start at the end of June and flight control optimisation will begin. Changes will include tuning gearing ratios, which have been "keep quite stiff to avoid PIO [pilot induced optimisa tion]", and maintain flight safety during initial envelope expansion, says Ramseier. Smith adds "getting the gearing right is making sure the aircraft is fit for purpose". Ramseier says flight testing, based at Pilatus Stans facility in eastern Switzerland, will cover around 450h to achieve civil visual flight rules certification. In September, the power manage ment system - taken from a lighter proof-of-concept (PoC) aircraft with out modification - will be resched uled, providing l,080shp (800kW) on take-off up to 70kt (130km/h), as opposed to today's 900shp, after which power increases until l,600shp is available at 200kt rather than today's 220kt, says Ramseier. Pilatus has been able to make the change as the aircraft is "docile...quite benign" during take off and the additional power means improved take-off and initial rate of climb performance, says Smith. As a knock-on effect, the carbonfibre propeller's diameter will be increased SOmm (2in) to 2,390mm. Phase 1 flight trials used a Pilatus PC-7Mk2-based PoC aircraft to test the high wing-loading and other items planned for the PC-21. PoC first flight was in November 1997, and concluded after a 21 Oh pro gramme in December last year. The PoC aircraft had two of the PC-21's three 150 x 200mm cockpit dis plays, the engine power manage ment system, and reduced-span wing and spoiler-boosted roll con trol system, both used to replicate jet-like handling, a key aim of the PC-21 programme. Along with our partners, we're keeping the F-35 JSF program on track and on budget. Here are some key highlights from the past month. F-35 Team Looks Ahead Following Successful Preliminary Design Review. PDR, a major program milestone, showed that the F-35's preliminary design meets the program's Key Performance Parameters and achieves present and future Air System requirements and solutions. The F-35 team is looking ahead to upcoming milestones while closing out a handful of remaining PDR activities. The purpose of the assessment was to evaluate the aircraft's early design. Completion of PDR will clear the way for the development team, including subcontractors, to enter into the critical design phase and begin manufacturing parts for the first series of development aircraft. The program remains on schedule for Critical Design Review (CDR) in 2004 and first flight in late 2005. Partner Delivers First F-35 Vehicle Management Computer. The F-35 JSF program is about partnerships, and teammate BAE SYSTEMS has delivered the first F-35 vehicle management computer. The powerful unit, slightly smaller than a shoe box, houses hardware and software for the F-35's digital flight control and utility systems. The all-digital system saves on weight and space while improving precision and providing 10 times the computational power of previous-generation systems. F-35 JSF Lauded for Commitment to the Environment. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company has been recognized for dramatically reducing the use of hazardous materials in the F-35 program. Environmental Protection Agency officials in the United States presented the award for the company's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter "Design for Environment" process. The award was given on Earth Day, April 22. The award recognizes "exceptional work and commitment to the environment." NORTHROP GRUMMAN I M i JMII II Pratt ft Whitney A UnflM TBCBJ!O1OOJ« Company LOCKHEED MA WtiWp^ www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 27 MAY - 2 JUNE 2003 17
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