TESTER Naval Air Station Patuxent River
Vol. 72, No. 41
Celebrating 72 Years of Community Partnership
NDW kicks off Energy Action Month Page 4
An unforgettable 12.5 seconds Page 5
Fleet Facilitator of the Week Page 6
October 15, 2015
Manned Flight Simulator celebrates 30 years Courtesy of Integrated Battlespace Simulation & Test Department
Courtesy photo
The photos on the left illustrate the dome display from the F/A-18C cockpit and an AV-8B simulator, both used in the 1980’s. These simulators date back to the opening of the Manned Flight Simulator (MFS) facility. Comparatively, the photo on the right shows an F/A-18E simulator, used today. The simulators currently located at MFS continue to be an integral component of NAVAIR’s research, development, test and evaluation capabilities.
Who would have guessed in 1985 that using simulators to test aircraft would be vital to fielding new weapon systems for the fleet? This concept originated with a requirement to perform ground testing of the F/A-18 mission computer prior to in-flight testing and now it has grown to so much more! Today, we celebrate this growth and 30 years of excellence at Manned Flight Simulator (MFS). In 1985, a few engineers and scientists introduced the idea of testing aircraft in a laboratory simulated environment before testing in flight. The goal was to save cost, schedule and reduce risk. After 30 years of supporting NAVAIR, MFS is a center of excellence for aircraft simulation. Starting off with only two simulation cockpits, MFS is now home to nine high-fidelity cockpits and eight simulation stations, including a six-de-
gree-of-freedom motion base providing acceleration and deceleration cues to test pilots. Today, MFS uses simulators for flying qualities and performance evaluations, avionics integration testing, flight test mission rehearsal, accident investigations, prototype evaluations, installed systems testing, and prototype simulator design. These simulation capabilities are a valuable complement to flight testing and provide quality-engineering results early in the acquisition lifecycle that reduce cost and schedule. As we move toward fielding more complicated aircraft weapons systems that use advanced networking and multi-ship targeting technologies, the capability to test them becomes much more difficult, if not impossible, with traditional test methods. MFS is at the forefront of developing these new capabilities and continues to be a vital part in the advancement of Naval Aviation.
Join the Junior Enlisted Association Friendship, involvement, mentoring By Donna Cipolloni NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs
NAS Patuxent River’s Junior Enlisted Association (JEA) is the organization to join for young Sailors looking for camaraderie, community involvement and peer-to-peer mentoring. Open to any military member – E-5 or below – JEA’s goal is to bring young Sailors together to foster fellowship, encourage positive behavior and reinforce the culture of Sailor helping Sailor – thereby aiding in the development of future leaders. “Pax River is mostly a civilian base, and it’s hard [for junior Sailors] to connect here,” said Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Rosalinda Orio, the JEA’s outgoing president. “So we’re trying to bring them together for events and community service. We’re giving them positive alternatives for something to do.” Although a first class mentor provides guidance, JEA is run exclusively by junior Sailors with an annually elected board of directors in charge of every aspect of the organization. Membership is $5 per month or $50 per year, and the fees help offset the organization’s fundraisers and events Events this past year included Dizzy Driving, held in cooperation with the Liberty Center, where participants donned special goggles that simulated being drunk and then had to maneuver an obstacle course while driving large tricycles. “We wanted to show how irresponsible it is to drink and drive, but we did it in a way that was fun too,” Orio explained. “[Morale, Welfare and Recreation] brought out food and there were gift cards as prizes for the winners.” Another event included a food meal preparation demonstration at the barracks, where most events are held in an effort to create interest and increase membership.
“In order to stay in the Navy, Sailors have to stay in shape and we showed them healthy meals they could make themselves to keep the weight off,” Orio said. “They don’t always have to go off base and eat fast food or spend a lot of money.” Participation in organized community service events is also required of each JEA member. “All Sailors have to have good evals and one thing the Navy wants to see is that we’re giving back to the community where we’re stationed, “Orio noted. “We want to help our Sailors get to the next level by offering volunteer service opportunities. Sometimes, JEA events are simply social gatherings. “We’re working on a possible ski trip through MWR,” added Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Hunter Whitmarsh, the new incoming president. “We partner with them to do a lot of stuff, especially if there’s an event like going to a baseball game.” JEA’s board members are focused on increasing their membership by trying to reach as many Sailors as possible. They make a presentation at every indoctrination program, they work with first class petty officers to help spread the word to their junior Sailors, and they utilize social media through the Facebook page Whitmarsh developed. Both Whitmarsh and Orio agreed that JEA members mentor each other and, as a result, can help each other make the right decisions and avoid downfalls that can hurt not only the individual, but also their career and the team they work for. “JEA can help others find people to connect with, hang out with and do something positive with,” Whitmarsh said. “This base has 20,000 civilians and only 3,000 military. Getting the military together would be nice, and we want to get the word out there.”
Courtesy photo
Members of the NAS Patuxent River Junior Enlisted Association participate in Dizzy Driving, a recent event that demonstrated how difficult it is to drive under the influence of alcohol, by donning special “drunk goggles” and attempting to maneuver an obstacle course on large tricycles.
For more information
• Visit www.facebook.com/paxjea