Technology Update
Airbus wing testing
 A 69-ft Airbus A340-500/600 wing underwent testing in which it deflected almost 16.4 ft when subjected to nearly twice its limit load. Partial deflection is shown here. |
What is described as the largest Airbus wing built to date—for the A340-500/600—has completed its structural test program, announced Airbus UK. Between January and late May this year, a 70-ft test section representing part of a production-standard wing went through testing. The final phase saw the section deflected by almost 16.4 ft when subjected to nearly twice its limit load.
Some 1000 sensors were attached to the wing section to record strain, deflection, and distribution of loads. A total of 25 servo-controlled hydraulic jigs simulated aerodynamic flight loads.
Fatigue testing on a complete aircraft specimen, where A340-500/600 wings are assembled to the fuselage and tested through a comprehensive range of simulated takeoff and landing cycles, is taking place in Dresden, in collaboration with French and German colleagues, and will continue into 2003.
- Stuart Birch
Long-endurance UAV makes flight
 Boeing's long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle, called ScanEagle, successfully made its first autonomous flight, taking off via a pneumatic catapult and flying to a maximum altitude of 1500 ft. |
Boeing's long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle, called ScanEagle, successfully made its first autonomous flight at the company's Boardman test facility in eastern Oregon. The UAV, built by The Insitu Group, took off via a pneumatic catapult and flew a pre-programmed course at a maximum altitude of 1500 ft. During the 45-min flight, ScanEagle completed a number of test points using its global positioning system. The test team also demonstrated the ability to make real-time updates to the flight plan from the ground station. The UAV was retrieved using the patented SkyHook technique, in which the aircraft catches a rope hanging from a 30-ft-high pole.
With an overall length of 4 ft and wingspan of 10 ft, the ScanEagle can fly up to 68 kts, was built using systems automation, integration, communications, and payload technologies applicable to a variety of Boeing unmanned systems.
In February 2002, Boeing signed a 15-month agreement with Insitu to develop the ScanEagle UAV. ScanEagle is based on Insitu's Seascan aircraft, a ship-based surveillance platform. In 1998, Insitu and the University of Washington demonstrated the potential of these types of vehicles when they coordinated their first UAV transatlantic flight, a 2000-mi trip from Newfoundland to Scotland that used only 1.5 gallons of gasoline.
- Frank Bokulich
Goodrich vertical reference system certified
The FAA has granted Goodrich Corp. Technical Standard Order (TSO) approval for its new solid-state Vertical Reference System Model VRS-3000. The device is designed as a replacement for conventional spinning-mass-type vertical gyroscopes. The system uses solid-state rate and level sensors and provides traditional ARINC 407-synchro information for pitch and roll attitude. The VRS-3000 also provides stable and consistent attitude, body rates, inertial pitch and roll rates, and acceleration outputs in ARINC 429 digital format. It can provide attitude information to drive primary or standby flight displays and autopilots and is compatible with both analog and solid-state attitude indicators.
The VRS-3000 can be installed in helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, drones, and remote-piloted vehicles. The system weighs only 3.5 lb and is designed for low power consumption.
- Frank Bokulich
Cockpit security: Airbus closes the doors
Following the requirement for enhanced onboard airliner security systems, Airbus has announced that it has certification from the European Joint Aviation Authority for new cockpit doors. The doors meet all recently introduced and pre-existing safety and security regulations, says the company. The doors will be fitted to production aircraft from this month. Conversion kits are also available for in-service aircraft.
The new high-security doors were made available initially for single- aisle aircraft, with those for twin- aisles following shortly thereafter. The design, which had to meet not only security requirements but also rapid decompression criteria, includes a reinforced and bulletproof main door panel, an escape panel, electrical door latching, electronic entry pad located in the cabin, and a warning light and buzzer in the cockpit. A toggle system in the cockpit enables the pilots to control access to the area and to secure the door when needed.
Other security aspects offered by Airbus include a video system, which can be used by pilots to monitor the cabin area outside the door. Provision for this system will be fitted to all new Airbus models.
Airbus has also developed two possible solutions to ensure that the transponder signal from the aircraft to ATC (air traffic control) cannot be interrupted in the event of an attack. A system has also been developed to improve communication between cabin and cockpit crew members in the event of an emergency.
- Stuart Birch
