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| Press Release Number: E200304101 | 10-Apr-03 |
Osprey Begins TF Test Flights |
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| by Ward Carroll, NAVAIR (V-22) PAO The V-22 Integrated Test Team realized another milestone on April 4 when Osprey No. 7, one of the ITT's CV-22s, successfully reached the multi-mission radar's low altitude target for the airplane mode of flight. After conducting a series of build-up flights to ensure the proper warning, caution, and advisory system functions at altitudes of 500 and 300 feet, test pilots Major Tom Goodnough, USAF, and Marty Shubert took Osprey No. 7 down to a 200-foot "set clearance plain." The Joint Program Office at NAVAIR, including the Bell-Boeing team, and the Integrated Test Team are developing the CV-22 to meet the requirements of the Special Operations Command, which includes the requirement for the aircraft to ingress at low altitude to avoid enemy radar coverage. Through signals generated by the CV-22's multi-mission radar and processed by the mission computer, pilots get terrain avoidance cues that allow the Osprey to safely fly very close to the ground, even at night and in bad weather. Osprey No. 7 test director Matt McMenemy was extremely pleased with the first terrain following test flight. "The TF system worked as we expected it would, maybe even better," he said from the ITT facility at Edwards. The first fight was done over Harpers Dry Lake Bed near Edwards. The winds were up and the aircrew was buffeted by turbulence for most of the mission. "But that's flying around here this time of year," said test pilot Major Tom Goodnough. "In spite of that we were able to get a lot done. At this point, while we continue to work the bugs out, we're very happy with how far the TF system has come." The bar will be raised on subsequent events, working over low isolated peaks (500 foot vertical rise) and then high isolated peaks (5,000 foot vertical rise). After that the ITT will test the TF system above rolling terrain and, finally, rough terrain. The initial phase is slated to last six months. The next phase will test the system at night and in IMC conditions. "The ultimate goal is to fly without outside visual references," explained Major Goodnough. "We need to be able to get through darkness, clouds, sandstorms, oil fire smoke . . . anything." "This hop was an impressive first step in developing the multi-mission radar's capability," McMenemy said. "The TF system is crucial to giving the CV-22 the capability that SOCOM needs, and we're pleased to be off on the right foot toward giving them that capability." CAPTION FOR PHOTO: Osprey No. 7 returns to Edwards Air Force Base in airplane mode following a CV-22 test flight. (Official USAF photo) |
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