Public Affairs, Volume 63, Number 43
Serving the community of Edwards Air Force Base California www.edwards.af.mil - www.facebook.com/EdwardsAirForceBase
May 13, 2016
F-35 Lightning II tailhook testing begins at Edwards By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs When most people hear “tailhook” they think of U.S. Navy planes and aircraft carriers. However, almost all U.S. combat aircraft have a tailhook. That also goes for the Air Force’s new F-35A Lightning II. The F-35 Integrated Test Force here conducted the first set of tests for the F-35A’s tailhook. F-35s have landed using a tailhook before, but not at the speeds and weights being tested now. By nature, Navy aircraft need tailhooks to catch arresting wires on aircraft carriers. The Navy’s version of the JSF - the F-35C – has a significantly more robust tailhook that is designed differently for Navy purposes. On Air Force planes tailhooks are only used to help the jet stop when landing distance is insufficient or if the jet has a brake malfunction or directional control issue. They are designed as a one-time use device whereas Navy tailhooks like on the F-35C can deploy, retract and stow. “In the big picture, the F-35A tailhook is designed to stop the jet in an emergency primarily,” said Maj. Corey Florendo, 461st Flight Test Squadron project test pilot. “We have to make sure the system works as designed and as specified. We’re out there to verify the performance of the system, up to and including the worst case conditions we can possibly envision.” The initial testing included powering the F-35A at 180 knots over the ground; about 200 miles an hour. As high speed cameras record, AF-04 from the 461st FLTS speeds down the runway. Engineers plan the time to deploy the tailhook, and when the time comes, the test pilot deploys the hook to catch an arresting cable in place to safely stop the fighter. Data is collected and the video footage is reviewed. “There’s a lot of parameters that we’re looking at. Obviously, we’re curious about the forces on the hook. Aside from just the numbers, we’re also curious if the tailhook system is going to be safe. ‘Is the cable going to
A video frame grab shows AF-04 from the 461st Flight Test Squadron engaging an arresting cable during F-35A tailhook testing April 20. (U.S. Air Force image by Brad White)
do something like hook the main landing gear and not the cable?’ No one has done this before, and before this happens to someone out in the Air Force, we want to see it and make sure it works,” Florendo said. AF-04 had several successful engagements with the tailhook and arresting cable, which will clear the path for additional tests coming up. Florendo said they will be looking at different “offsets” in future tests. “Ideally you want to be in the center of the runway, but we want to also test to see what happens when the pilot is not in the center,” he said. Like most other test projects on Edwards, JSF tailhook testing requires heavy coordination throughout different organizations on base and off.
See F-35A, Page 3
Global Hawk icing tests open doors to ease flight restrictions By Christopher Ball 412th Test Wing Public Affairs Whenever the Global Hawk begins a mission, it has to travel through a certain area of the atmosphere that, under certain conditions, can create ice on the aircraft, adding weight and aerodynamic drag. A cloud deck from about 8,000 feet to 22,000 feet is the main concern for the Global Hawk, according to project engineer Jonny Kim, Global Vigilance Combined Test Force. According to Maj. Ryan Finlayson, test pilot with the Global Vigilance CTF, the ice only forms for about five minutes on the way up, and again on the way down through this cloud deck. To assure that these variables will not negatively impact the Global Hawk’s role, members of the Global Vigilance Combined Test Force here are testing the aircraft in a unique way.
Memebers of the Global Vigilance Combined Test Force prepare the Global Hawk for an icing test mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chris Higgins)
Rather than wait for the right weather conditions, the formation of the cloud deck, technology was used to design 3-D printed nylon attachments to mimic the ice that would form on the aircraft during ascent and descent. “This was a first-of-type testing done here at Edwards. No other program or CTF has
accomplished icing testing in this manner,” said Lt. Col. Cory Naddy, director of the Global Vigilance CTF. He said the combination of the testing techniques and the fact that this is an autonomous unmanned air vehicle made the testing high risk by wing standards, and required significant effort behind the scenes in the CTF. “We actually had the aircraft take off with the equivalent of light icing on the wings and tail – something that no other aircraft would normally do,” Naddy said. “From the moment we lifted off, we were operating in an envelope that was See Global Hawk, Page 3
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Positive urine tests and prescription drugs what every Airman should know
The abuse of prescription drugs is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States, and this trend is reflected in the military. While pain medications are effective in alleviating suffering from injuries, they are dangerous and potentially addictive when used outside of medical supervision. Using prescription drugs in a manner contrary to their intended medical purpose or in excess of the prescribed dosage may have negative consequences to a person’s health and safety and may violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Some prescription medicines may produce a positive screening test and a subsequent positive confirmatory test. Airmen may receive disciplinary action if they test positive for illegally acquired substances, which includes prescription drugs. These prescription medications can include but are not limited to narcotics (pain killers), amphetamines (for treating attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder), and benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety drugs). Airmen never know when they will get a urine test. It is random, no notice, and can occur at any time. Anyone from a senior leader to a brand
new Airman can be required to report for a urinalysis. Everybody is accountable. The odds are against Airmen if illicit drugs are detected without a doctor’s prescription. Prescription drugs should only be taken for the purposes for which they are indicated at the dose, frequency, and duration they are prescribed. Doctors prescribe medicines based on specific symptoms and medical history. Something that works for one person can be dangerous for someone else. Airmen should not share their medicine or take medicine prescribed to someone else. People should know and understand their provider’s specific instructions for taking the medication. A health care provider can and should answer questions about the appropriate use of a medication. A follow-up with the provider help decide whether the medication should be continued, adjusted, or discontinued.
AADD offers risk-free alternative 2 The Airmen Against Drunk Driving program aims to reduce drunk driving at Edwards Air Force Base and in surrounding communities by offering people a safe, free, and anonymous alternative. Safe rides are offered to both military and Department of Defense civilians. Individuals can call 661-277-AADD or 661-275-AADD to request a ride. A link to the AADD phone number can also be found on the MyMC2 application for smart phones. The individual will not have to provide name, organization or rank; it is completely anonymous. I would much rather someone call me in the middle of the night than risk someone dying,” said a permanent volunteer for the program. “I have been called multiple times, and am not bothered at all.” AADD provides service 24 hours/seven days a week. The areas serviced include Edwards, Rosamond, Lancaster, Palmdale, California City, Tehachapi, Mojave and North Edwards. Anyone can also volunteer to become a designated driver, military and civilian. Volunteer drivers will need to provide a good contact number, area(s) they are willing to respond to, and the name of the city in which they live. If you would like to volunteer please email jessie.ralls@us.af.mil with your name, phone number, residence location, as well as the cities
you would be willing to drive to. Examples are Lancaster, Edwards, Cal. City, Boron, Palmdale, Rosamond, Mojave or all locations). Our goal is to call volunteers according to their preferences. Call 661-277-3040 for any questions. DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE. If you need a ride call (661) 277-AADD(2233).
If Airmen receive prescriptions medication from a civilian provider, they should contact their provider team so they can request the off base medical records and discuss the situation. If possible, they should try to get the prescription filled at the 412th Medical Group so that the prescription will be documented in your medication profile. However, if the medicine is needed during the weekend or after business hours, a civilian pharmacy can fill the prescription. The provider team must be notified to update medical records. Unused prescription drugs should be disposed of once they are no longer needed for their prescribed purposes. At Edwards, the 412th MDG Pharmacy provides a blue "MedSafe" medication disposal box located in the pharmacy waiting area where one can safely and securely dispose unused medications. The original container may be used when disposing unwanted medication. If there is no deposit box or take-back program available, the FDA provides guidance for proper disposal. More information on the proper disposal of medications can be found at http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm101653.htm For more information, call 277-7118 or send a MiCare message. (Article courtesy of the 412th Medical Group.)
Veterans, spouses travel to Edwards for Military Retiree Appreciation Day by Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs Approximately 300 military retirees, their families and surviving spouses were welcomed to the 2016 Military Retiree Appreciation Day event held May 7 at the Oasis Community Center and the Rosburg Fitness Center. Attendees came from as far away as Bakersfield, Barstow and Los Angeles. Retirees and spouses were treated to services and information updates from staff members with the Edwards Retirees Activities Office, the 412th Medical Group, legal office, ID card services, TRICARE, Delta Dental, USAA and many more. During the event, information booths were set up on the basketball court at the gym with briefings and refreshments held at the Oasis Community Center. Each briefing provided the latest information about medical issues and benefits, Veterans Affairs, TRICARE, legal services and Casualty Affairs. Along with information, attendees enjoyed free refreshments and hotdogs provided by the Commissary, as well as raffle prizes at the end. For information about military retirees and upcoming events, call the Retiree Activities Office at (661) 277-4931 or visit www.edwards.af.mil/library/factsheets/factshe et.asp?id=7724.
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F-35A , from 1
A Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft with nylon “ice” strips attached to the wings and ruddervators taxis on the Edwards flightline during an icing test mission here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chris Higgins)
Global Hawk, from 1
unproven and many risk factors were at play.” The director explained that they had models for predictions, but that was it. “Due to thorough preparation by the team, those models were done conservatively and the aircraft performed better than initially expected,” he said. As project engineer, Kim is new to the flight testing world. “This is my first real job,” he said. “I just graduated from Cal Poly Pomona and was brought on to tackle this project.” Being fairly inexperienced, he had to learn about what icing on aircraft entailed by researching previous studies. "Reports and analyses by [other agencies] were great resources and a tremendous help." The 3-D forms were attached to the leading edges of the wings and ruddervators (the tailfins) of a Global Hawk. Before the aircraft was ever flown, the team modeled the shapes and performed wind-tunnel testing. Since the Global Hawk is an unmanned aircraft, accuracy of the flight tests were even more important. “We had to get it right the first time,” Finlayson said. “The (Global Hawk) pilot controls a lot, but not the flight controls.” Once ground tests were completed, the CTF prepare the aircraft for actual flight testing. The
aircraft was flown with different fuel loads, first with a medium load and then two more flights with heavy fuel loads. “We started at lower altitudes and worked our way up.” Maj. Finlayson. The pilot said these tests may not lift any flight restrictions on the Global Hawk, but they do open the door. “We’ve shown that the aircraft is flyable if it picks up a bit of ice,” he said. Kim said making this project happen required plenty of teamwork. Other agencies involved included the Global Hawk System Program Office, Northrop Grumman Corp., Air Force Test Center Safety, and many technical experts. “This project brought the best out of everyone I worked with,” Kim said. “It was very demanding, but I enjoy fast-paced high pressure work.” The simulated ice was made using a process called selective laser sintering (SLS). According to Kim, the process uses a bed of powder, and a laser solidifies the powder to create shapes. Sintering can be done with several materials, including glass, metal and nylon. “SLS allows for complex geometries without support structures and produces parts that are air and water-tight, heat resistant, and strong. This production process effectively saves time and money,” Kim said.
Quarterly award winners announced The award winners for the first quarter, January through March, 2016, were announced in a ceremony at the base theater May 5. The winners and their categories are: Senior Airman Aireannah Haga, 412th Medical Group, Airman; Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Bracely II, 412th Test Wing Inspector General, Noncommissioned Officer; Master Sgt. Brian Knox, 412th Maintenance Group, Senior Noncommissioned Officer; Capt. Scott Baker, 412th Medical Group, Company Grade Officer; Maj. Jason Knudeson,412th Test Wing Chapel, Field Grade Officer; Senior Airman Cameron Farrell, 412th Civil Engineer Group, Dormitory; Staff Sgt. Max Jeng, 412th MXG, Honor Guard; Wendy McCollum, 412th MSG, Supervision/Management; Julio Alvarez, 412th Operations Group, Scientific/Engineering; Dante Parker, 412th MSG, Technician; Robert Celaya, 412th OG, Trades and Labor; Sonia Contreras, 412th MDG, Secretarial/Clerical; Doug Harness, 412th MSG, Staff/Specialist/Analyst; Michael Warren, 412th CEG, Program Manager; 412th Electronic Warfare Group Site Support Division, Team; and Senior Airman Ernest Vang, 412th MSG, Volunteer.
“Obviously, we’re not the only program that executes here at Edwards,” said Andrew Soundy, Lockheed Martin experimental test pilot. “We have the main runway that has the permanent cables attached, so if we’re doing cable testing or landing gear testing, we really need sole use of the runway. If we used the permanent cables, we would severely impact the outer runway.” That’s where the Air Force’s 820th RED HORSE Airmen from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, come in. RED HORSE stands for rapid engineer deployable heavy operational repair squadron engineers. The team set up the mobile aircraft arresting system on Edwards' 12,000-foot inside runway so impact on other flight operations is minimal during testing. “I’ve been involved in a lot of test projects over the years, this one has probably the most input from multiple different agencies and it’s great to see the way it’s all come together,” said Soundy.
(U.S. Air Force image by Chris Higgins)
Local talent showcased here Singers, musicians and comedians took to the spotlight at "Operation Talent Search" at the Oasis Community Center April 27. Family Advocacy and the Teen Center joined to co-host the show to promote National Child Abuse Prevention Month, with a large portion of the audience consisting of children. National Child Abuse Prevention Month is observed every April. This year's theme is "Building Community, Building Hope." Songs performed included today’s pop chart songs and traditional hits. First place winners in each category were given a $50 Amazon gift card and a $25 Amazon gift cards for second place. If eligible, a DVD of their act will be forwarded to Air Force Entertainment in San Antonio, Texas, to the Air Force level. There they can compete to win $200 to $500 and a chance for a recording contract and possibly be named Air Force Entertainer of the Year.
In the Husband & Wife Category, Tech. Sgt. Steven Eckles and his wife Karen perform during “Operation Talent Search” April 27 at the Oasis Community Center. (U.S. Air Force photo by Joseph Gocong)
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May 14, 8 a.m. to noon, Edwards flightline. Free spectator admission Free parking
This week in Edwards Flight Test History
On May 10, 1972 at Edwards, Fairchild Republic’s YA-10A Thunderbolt II made its first flight, flown by company chief test pilot Howard “Sam” Nelson. The twin-engine, twin-tailed ground attack aircraft was designed around the GAU-8 Avenger 30mm rotary cannon. (Edwards History Office file photo)
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Announcements
Police Week is Monday through May 20. The 412th Security Forces Squadron presenting several events in recognition of the men and women in Law Enforcement. Opening ceremony is Monday, 7:15 a.m., at the Airman Leadership School drill pad, 148 Methusa Ave. For more information, call Staff Sgt. Erica Hollingsworth at 277-3340 Combat Arms Training and Maintenance display and K-9 demonstration are Monday, 10 a.m., in the Base Exchange parking lot. For more information, call 277-4421 or 277-2103. K-9 demonstration and patrol vehicle display are Monday, 2:30 p.m., in the parking lot behind the Child Development Center. For more information, call Tech. Sgt. Amanda Esparza, 7-0025 A 15-kilometer ruck march is Tuesday, 6 a.m., behind Fire Station 2 in base housing. For more information, call Tech. Sgt. Coliell Washington at 277-2826 Bowling for Badges is Tuesday, 3 p.m., at the High Desert Lanes Bowling Center. For more information, call Tech. Sgt. Keith Daniels at 277-3340 Golf tournament is Wednesday at Muroc Lake Golf Course. Show time is 7:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. For more information call Staff Sgt. Joseph Nichols at 277 0109, or staff Sgt. Zachary Moitoso at 277-2185 Retreat ceremony is May 20, 4 p.m., at the Airman Leadership School drill pad, 148 Methusa Ave. For more information, call Senior Airman Renzmark Dela Cruz at 277-6901. Women Veteran’s Forum is May 21, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Lancaster Public Library. For more information, call Danny Bazzell at 661-729-6232. Upcoming Single Airmen Initiative upcoming events: Aero Club orientation flights for $5. For more information call Silke Eyles at 275-2376. Piano, guitar, Zumba, and Hula instructions at the Oasis Community Center for $5. For more information, call Greg Slay at 275-2687. Free bowling night at High Desert Lanes Saturday May 21. For more information, call Tim Banks or Loretta Perdang at 275-2695; A baseball clinic with the Lancaster Jethawks is June 5. Participants can enjoy a game, learn from the players and play a three inning game. For more information, call Greg Slay at 275-2687. For more information on upcoming events, visit http://edwardsfss.com/wordpress/
Chief Master Sergeant David C. Smith, 412th Test Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant, will retire in a ceremony June 3, 3 p.m., in Hangar 1600.
A reception will follow immediately after the ceremony at Club Muroc, Alliance Room. Dress is uniform of the day for military, and business casual for civilians. Please R.S.V.P. by Thursday. For more information, call 277-3326 or 277-4413.
Final hoorah!
Senior Airman Ryan Chong (left) and Airman Pearley Shanley, both with the 412th Communications Squadron, tackle the final obstacle during the “Ninja Obstacle Course” here Wednesday. The event was organized as part of a series of events to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Editorial Staff Commander, 412th TW ................................ Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer Installation Support Director, 412th TW.................... Dr. David Smith Command Chief, 412th TW ............... Chief Master Sgt. David Smith Director, 412th TW, Public Affairs ................................... Ed Buclatin Editor ......................................................................... Christopher Ball Staff Writer ................................................................ Kenji Thuloweit Contributor ................................................................. Dawn Waldman To submit articles or upcoming events send an email to newsroom@edwards.af.mil Produced by Public Affairs Graphics 160329