Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
23, 2005
Alan Brown
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center
Phone: 661/276-2665
alan.brown@dfrc.nasa.gov
RELEASE: 05-08
The Hawkeye, distinctive with its 24-foot diameter rotating radome and
quadruple vertical tails, is part of a fleet of aircraft that has
been operational for more than 40 years. The Navy is planning
upgrades that will add weight to the aircraft. Navy officials asked
NASA Dryden to help formulate loads equations aimed at determining
how the additional weight will affect the aircraft's flight envelope.
The aircraft arrived at Dryden last fall from its base at the Naval
Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAVAIR) at Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, Md. A Navy crew removed the engines and propellers,
purged fuel tanks and performed other preparations before NAVAIR and
Dryden technicians began installing loads sensors and other equipment
for the structural tests. The work was completed in mid-March about
three weeks ahead of schedule.
An unmodified E-2C weighs about 42,000 pounds empty. The Hawkeye that
was tested at Dryden had its weight beefed up with metal plates to
simulate an empty weight of about 45,000 pounds -- mimicking the
latest weight configuration of the upgraded E-2D Advanced Hawkeye,
more commonly known as the "Hummer" in the fleet. Loads were applied
to the aircraft's wings and tail.
The E2-C has an 80-foot wingspan, is about 58 feet long and 18 feet
tall. Dryden's Loads Laboratory can accommodate the aircraft with
room to spare for equipment and fixtures necessary for conducting the
research.
NAVAIR project engineer Jason Brys said the Navy has been pleased with
the progress that has been made to date.
"We had a few obstacles during the preparation process, but the
three-party team of NASA, NAVAIR, and Northrop Grumman Corp. have
come up with timely solutions," he said.
"The Navy decided to use NASA Dryden because they have unique
facilities and experience that are hard to find elsewhere, and I am
pleased with the support that we have received from Dryden to date,"
Brys added.
Lundstrom said the tests on the E-2C illustrate one of two core
competencies of the NASA Dryden Flight Loads Lab.
"We're one of the few locations in the nation that can do this
specific type of test," he said. "Our second very important
capability that we're still in the process of developing and growing
and learning more about, is testing under extreme thermal conditions.
We have a strong tradition here at Dryden for testing for both of
those types of information."
The E-2A Hawkeye first entered service in 1961, was updated in 1969 as
the E-2B and the E-2C was introduced in 1973. It performs a similar
role to the Air Force E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System, also
known as AWACS.
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