...Yet Avoids It

The CV-22 test program reached a high point in its flight test history when Osprey 7 successfully completed a terrain-following radar exercise at Edwards AFB (CA), during its multimode radar test plan segment.

Osprey 9, expected to return to normal flight testing in June, is undergoing hydraulic and electrical system modifications and directed infrared countermeasures system installation testing on its avionics, multimode radar and suite of integrated radio frequency countermeasures.

For Osprey 7, the terrain-following exercise test was a first in its flight test history.

"We have to qualify this aircraft in all types of terrains," said Maj. Gregory Weber, CV-22 government flight test director. "We'll also fly it in its three different flight modes of helicopter, airplane and conversion mode, which is anything between the helicopter and airplane mode."

When an aircraft does terrain following, the pilot programs a desired height above the ground into the computer, and the computer will guide the pilot to keep the aircraft above the ground at that specific altitude.

"It's kind of like a cruise control that the pilot has to manually work," said Weber. "The way it works is the computer has the desired above-ground level to fly at. And when something like a mountain comes up, it will tell the pilot to fly higher to stay at the desired level. It also does the same if the plane flies above the desired level."

As part of testing for Osprey 9, electronic warfare capabilities and avionics testing are done to ensure the Osprey is fully qualified for real-world missions.

"During the electronic warfare tests, they test the (suite of integrated radio frequency countermeasures)," said Weber. "For the avionics testing, they test the multimission advanced tactical terminal and the multimode radar functions of the vehicle. The reason we have to test this equipment is because we have mission software that is unique to us at Edwards (and) in the Air Force."

The Osprey is scheduled to be fully operational for Air Force Special Operations Command in 2010.

"We are scheduled to be finished with testing in April of 2006," said Weber. "After we're done, it goes to the (Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, NM,) for operational tests."

Currently, the Osprey is slated for other tests in April 2005. "It's supposed to go through some 'envelope-expansion' testing," said Weber. "It's basically a wartime environment test of its capabilities."

Capt. Gregg Leisman, a CV-22 flight test engineer, says the CV-22 testing is going as planned. "With the program's past history, I think it's going well," he said.

According to Lt. Col. J. D. Edwards, CV-22 operational test director, the testing is meeting and exceeding expectations. "I think we've made some big technical strides in testing this aircraft,"
said Edwards. "The best reason for that is that we've taken the time to find what problems there are on the aircraft and (are) fixing them."

[Thanks to Airman 1st Class Matthew Dillier, Air Force Flight Test Center Public Affairs --ed.]

FMI: www.af.mil