Public Affairs, Volume 63, Number 52
Serving the community of Edwards Air Force Base California www.edwards.af.mil - www.facebook.com/EdwardsAirForceBase
July 15, 2016
KC-46 returns to Washington sky for testing 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
A KC-46 Pegasus connects with a C-17 Globemaster III during testing in Washington State Tuesday. Testers made the C-17 connection just four days after connecting with an F-16 Fighting Falcon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chris Okula)
The KC-46A Pegasus connected in flight with an F-16 Fighting Falcon July 8 and a C-17 Globemaster III July 12. These tests with the F-16 and C-17 were in support of the Milestone C requirements to rendezvous, contact, and transfer fuel to several receiver aircraft types. An initial attempt with the F-16 earlier this year was successful, however higher-than-expected axial loads on the boom were detected. These loads were again present during the initial attempt with the C-17 and necessitated installation of hydraulic pressure relief valves in the boom. This week's successful tests show the boom axial loads hardware fix, designed by Boeing engineers, is performing as expected to alleviate the loads. The 412th Test Wing is the lead developmental test organization for the KC-46 Tanker Program. "I'm encouraged by these results. The KC-46 program continues to move forward, making important progress that will get this vital capabili-
See Tanker, page 3
RASCAL pod innovation enhances test capabilities By Christopher Ball 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
Innovation is the introduction of something new, an improved product or method. One innovation that’s not necessarily new but continues to demonstrate innovation is the RASCAL pod program at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School here. Conceived in 2006, The Reconfigurable Airborne Sensor, Communication and Laser - or RASCAL - pod provides a means of easily installing new instruments and technologies on board aircraft for flight testing. According to Dan Carroll, program manager for the RASCAL pod, installing the test hardware in the pod, rather than into an aircraft, saves time and money. “The pod has a tremendous impact on time,” Carroll said. “With current cutting edge technology, flight test equipment needs to be integrated, calibrated, and tested at the sub-system level. This can take weeks or months. We can’t always afford to take an aircraft off the line that long.” With the RASCAL pod, the integration and calibration is done in the laboratory, then the pod is mounted on an aircraft for the flight tests. Since the aircraft no longer needs to be modified, it is available for other missions. The pods are also useful for more short-notice projects. One example he cited was a project addition proposed by a customer, the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO), with just five weeks’ notice before a scheduled flight test. “There is no way to accomplish the approval, design and installation on an Air Force aircraft in that time frame,” Carroll said. “With the pod, it was easily done.” According to Carroll, DARPA, AFRL, defense contractors and other outside organizations request tests using the pods, or in many cases ask to
Two RASCAL pods running simultaneous tests saved more than $1 million of time for modification and lost missions (Courtesy photo) buy a RASCAL pod. In 2008 the pods’ size tended to limit the range of tests, since the equipment has to fit in a relatively small space. But the advancement of technology and shrinking of components is increasing the number of projects that can be supported with the pod.
See RASCAL, page 3
http://issuu.com/desertwings/docs/current