McDonnell Douglas (MDC) is to propose the test and development of an autonomous landing system to the US Air Force, using the newly resurrected YC-15 prototype as a technology demonstrator.
The autonomous landing system is expected to be one of the first technology-research efforts to be conducted with the YC-15, which was flown back to MDC's Long Beach site in California on 16 April after nearly 19 years in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.
Jim Winzell, director of advanced programmes for the C-17 and YC-15, says that the "-main reason we brought the aircraft back is to provide a technology testbed for the C-17". The autonomous landing system, for example, although believed to be aimed at the C-17, would be applicable to other USAF aircraft. "We want to put several systems on and compare them," says Winzell.
"Air Material Command has indicated they need some help, and we can do it quickly and flight test it cheaply," says Winzell, who adds that flight testing could take place in 1998. Potential team members include forward-looking infra-red system supplier, FLIR Systems, GEC Marconi (head-up-display) and TRW (millimetre-wave radar).
Other technology trials planned for the resurrected YC-15 include:
- active-core-exhaust (ACE) control - a programme to control the flow field around the engine exhaust nozzle, which would help direct the flow closer to the flaps. MDC hopes that the flow control may also help reduce acoustic and thermal effects. The YC-15 is fitted with Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15As, but MDC is negotiating with CFM International and International Aero Engines to re-engine the aircraft. MDC says that the ACE control is related to work performed with NASA on the propulsion-controlled-aircraft system; - advanced inerting - the C-17 has an inert-gas generator system to "inert" the fuel tanks, if hit by ground fire. The YC-15 would be used to test a "more advanced and reliable" system;
- enhanced defensive system - the testing of "off-the-shelf", and "more exotic" self-defence systems for application on the C-17; open-architecture avionics - MDC is studying an "off-the-shelf" open-architecture flightdeck for the YC-15, to allow it to "plug and play" with different options. "Whether we go to a full common cockpit is yet to be determined, but one of the options being studied by the USAF is a common cockpit for all its transports," says Winzell. MDC is considering using the second stored YC-15 as an avionics testbed.
Two YC-15s were built in the mid-1970s for the USAF's Advanced Medium STOL Transport programme, which was dropped in late 1977.
Source: Flight International
