Tarawa helps conduct tests for V-22 Osprey
SURFPAC Release
Release Date: 10/18/2002
By Ensign B. R. Jones, USS Harpers Ferry Public Affairs
On board USS TARAWA, at sea - Not all problems in the war on terrorism are being fought on the frontline. Some are being confronted by the teamwork of Navy/Marine Corps units and research, test and evaluation engineers. One such example: the V-22 Osprey Integrated Test Team which recently came aboard USS Tarawa (LHA-1).
This 18-member group of engineers, technicians and pilots embarked the San Diego-based amphibious assault ship for a week underway starting Sept. 30. They conducted tests and gathered information designed to improve the safety of the V-22 Osprey, a next-generation military aircraft under development for future deployment on amphibious warships.
"This was a very important week," said TARAWA Commanding Officer CAPT Jay Bowling. "Instead of testing on an actual V-22, the engineers brought out anemometers to gather information on wind velocity created by other helicopters around a flight deck."
"This was very much a data gathering evolution," said Bill Geyer, the lead engineer of the Osprey IT team from the Naval Air Systems Command. "We wanted to have a better understanding of the environment the V-22 will experience."
The V-22 Osprey is a joint-service aircraft capable of performing a wide variety of missions. This "medium lift" aircraft operates as a helicopter when taking off and landing, rising or descending vertically. Once airborne, the tilting rotors allows the V-22 Osprey to convert into a turboprop airplane.
According to Geyer, the Osprey IT Team's primary focus during this time was to gather data on "down-wash" -- the down-pushing draft of air caused by the rotation of the helicopter blades - by using other helicopters in a shipboard environment. "These tests will help the V-22 to operate safely with other aircraft and helicopters," he said.
As TARAWA steamed off the coast of San Diego during the week, embarked helicopters - a CH-53E "Super Stallion," a CH-46 "Sea Knight," and a UH-1N "Huey" -- made repeated passes over the ship to create a down-wash measured by anemometers set up on the flight deck. Although this was just one among many tests during a busy week for the Osprey IT team, it was important.
"It was quite an undertaking to set up 12 anemometers on a large structure and then collect data off them," said Geyer. "However, with a lot of risk reduction, I think we've made this as successful as possible."
The ship's Air Department and Air Intermediate Maintenance Department provided constant support to the engineers throughout the week Both departments performed a myriad of tasks that come with manning flight quarters, handling aircraft and support equipment, as well as providing a work station, according to Air Department officer LTJG Regina Rogers.
"Our "fuelies" (Air Department personnel who refuel aircraft), for example, provided the correct amount of fuel so that the helo conducting the tests had the correct weight for the wind velocity tests," said Rogers. "A couple of our guys, especially Petty Officer Ripp and Petty Officer Tran, really worked hard to support the V-22 Osprey team."
As for results seen by the deckplate Sailor, a big payoff from this data collection may not be readily apparent. The team will take its results and return to the East Coast where they'll analyze the information, and then develop and validate computer models. Over time these computer models will allow them to find ways to safely integrate the V-22 Osprey with other aircraft and helicopters in a shipboard environment. The data collection, however, did generate other results more readily apparent -- cooperation and teamwork.
"This has been an excellent crew, and they've been very supportive," said Geyer. "They've really bent over backwards to make this happen for us and helped us in many ways. I really appreciate their support."
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