Desert Wings
May 10, 2013
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Serving the community of Edwards Air Force Base, California www.edwards.af.mil – www.facebook.com/edwardsairforcebase
Volume 61, Number 42
May 10, 2013
C-5M undergoes ‘super’ upgrade at Edwards by Jet Fabara 412th TW Public Affairs In 2006, the C-5 Galaxy underwent a “super” upgrade to further strengthen the airframe’s worldwide airlift capabilities. Now known as the C-5M Super Galaxy, test teams at Edwards and Dover Air Force Base, Del., are showing why the recent software upgrade to the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory is no small task. With initial modifications being tested at Dover AFB, the aircraft has been ferried back to Edwards AFB where the remaining flight test sorties are being accomplished during May. “The C-5M Super Galaxy Block 3.5.2 software upgrade is intended to correct 72 deficiency reports that were documented during previous C-5M test programs,” said
Joel Williams, 775th Test Squadron C-5 lead engineer at the 418th Flight Test Squadron. “The results of the 418th FLTS testing of 3.5.2 will help support a fielding decision by the program office at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio,” added Maj. Zackary Schaffer, 418th FLTS C-5 test pilot. “Additionally, data from this testing will be used by the Development System Manager, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC/WLS) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to generate a program assessment summary to verify the C-5M retains the navigational performance and surveillance capabilities necessary for future airspace requirements.” According to the C-5M test team, the systems affected by this
Air Force photograph by Jet Fabara
See C-5, Page 8
Edwards testers essential to X-51A Waverider success by Laura Mowry Staff Writer When the X-51A Waverider program was established, the test team set out to demonstrate the viability of air-breathing scramjet propulsion. The goal of the $300 million concept-demonstrator program became reality May 1 when the test team achieved a record-setting 210 seconds of airbreathing hypersonic flight. “This mission was a full success. We boosted for roughly 26 seconds and then we were on powered scramjet for three and a half minutes. We flew the mission until we exhausted the fuel. We took aerodynamic data on the cruiser from unpowered all the way until we flew it in the ocean,” said Charlie Brink, X-51A program manager, from the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Aerospace Systems Directorate. The test team gathered 370 seconds of telemetry data as the Waverider traveled 230 nautical miles and reached maximum Mach at 5.1, with a peak altitude of approximately 60,000 feet. The test was executed over the Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center Sea Range. It was the fourth and final flight for the X-51A Waverider program, the culmination of knowledge gained and lessons learned from previous flights. “The first flight was in May of 2010, which was a partial success; total flight time on scramjet power was 143 seconds. The second was in June of 2011 and the scramjet engine started and stalled due to excessive See WAVERIDER, Page 8
Test Wing awards
Air Force photograph by Bobbi Zapka
The X-51A Waverider flew its fourth and final mission May 1 over the Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center Sea Range, during which the test team achieved a record- setting 210 seconds of air-breathing hypersonic flight. Flight testers from Edwards played a vital role in the program’s success.
Retirees .... Page 5
Coming soon .... Page 11
.... Page 3 412th Test Wing honors first quarter award winners.
Team Edwards shows its appreciation to retirees.
Arby’s coming to the Edwards Air Force Base Exchange.