Technology update
S-3 Viking begins fatigue testing
 Lockheed Martin has launched a full-scale fatigue testing program on the U.S. Navy's S-3 Viking with the hopes of extending its operational life through 17,750 flight h. |
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. began full-scale fatigue testing (FSFT) of a U.S Navy S-3 Viking anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft at its Marietta, GA, facility in June. Lockheed Martin has been prepping an S-3 fatigue test article since winning the Navy's $40 million contract for this work in 1998. The S-3 Viking continues to be a key component of the U.S. Navy's ASW fleet. Originally built at Lockheed Martin's Burbank, CA, facility, the S-3 has been in naval service since the 1970s.
The S-3 is currently certified for a structural life of 13,000 h, which the Viking fleet is rapidly approaching. The S-3 FSFT program will determine how much longer the Navy could keep its Vikings flying.
The U.S. Government, with data provided by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics' FSFT program, hopes to certify the S-3's operational life through 17,750 flight h. The fatigue testing should conclude in late 2002.
- Frank Bokulich
DERA's runway debris scanning system
 DERA has developed an automatic scanning runway debris alert system. |
Foreign objects and debris (FOD) on runways have always been a serious safety risk. Last year's Concorde crash drew fresh attention to the problem, but DERA, the UK's Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (now called QinetiQ) has announced a new system designed to help overcome it. Using high-resolution millimeter-wave (MMW) radar, the system continuously scans the surface of the runway in all weather conditions. DERA said it is capable of distinguishing small objects from a distance of 300 m, but that a commercial version of the system may be able to do this from a distance of 1.5 km. It could be linked to an automatic alert system. Aprons and taxiways could also be scanned to monitor smaller moving vehicles, including luggage carts. The system could also spot incursions by wildlife onto these areas and runways.
 DERA's FOD detector system could pick out such things as scaffolding clamps dropped on a runway. |
- Stuart Birch
CFM tests new engines and upgrade kits
 The first CFM56-5C/P engine is on schedule to begin ground testing in November, paving the way for engine certification in late 2002 and entry into service on the Airbus Industrie A340 in 2003. Click to enlarge |
CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma Moteurs of France and General Electric of the U.S., has begun testing its new CFM56-3 core upgrade in preparation for certification and entry into service in 2002. This was initiated in response to a $300 million agreement signed by Southwest Airlines to purchase core upgrade kits for 300 CFM56-3 engines. More than 4200 CFM56-3 engines have been produced, and CFM anticipates the market for this upgrade to be about 1000 engines.
The upgrade features advanced 3-D high-pressure compressor aerodynamics (3-D aero) and new high-pressure turbine hardware. It is designed to give operators better fuel efficiency, lower maintenance costs, and longer on-wing life. To date, CFM has completed more than 220 h of validation testing. In the next few months, the engine will undergo water ingestion, block tests, and endurance tests. In October, the engine will begin a 50-h flight test program at Boeing on a 737 aircraft.
On average, CFM56-3 engines have an on-wing time of 16,000 h before requiring an initial shop visit and about 10,000 h after overhaul. By incorporating 3-D aero in the engine's turbomachinery, the CFM56-3 gains an additional 15°C in exhaust gas temperature margin, which results in a 1% improvement in specific fuel consumption as well as additional on-wing time. The turbine upgrades include new nozzle, blade, and shroud materials, as well as improved cooling. These changes extend component life and reduce scrap rates and repair costs. The company expects engine operation with this upgrade to be seamless to airlines, with no change in power management.
The first CFM56-5C/P engine is on schedule to begin ground testing in November, paving the way for engine certification in late 2002 and entry into service on the Airbus Industrie A340 in 2003. The engine, which will be completely interchangeable with current configuration CFM56-5C engines, incorporates the advanced 3-D aerodynamic high-pressure compressor and high-pressure turbine originally developed for the CFM56-5B/P that powers the A320 family. A new stage-one low-pressure turbine nozzle is being developed to integrate with the engine's current low-pressure turbine. The CFM56-5C/P will offer a 1% improvement in specific fuel consumption compared to the -5C4 in addition to a 13°C increase in exhaust gas temperature margin.
 CFM International has begun testing its new CFM56-3 core upgrade in preparation for certification and entry into service in 2002. |
The company has planned an extensive test program that will include four test engines and two flight-test programs. More than 400 h of certification ground tests are planned for evaluation of performance, operability, mechanical response, control system, and ingestion testing. The flight test programs, which are scheduled for the second quarter 2002, will involve 100 h of performance and operability tests on an A340 aircraft.
To demonstrate the engine's long-term durability and reliability prior to entry into service, CFM is going beyond the normal certification test requirements and will conduct an extended endurance test program that will simulate many years of severe field operation. The ground test program, which will encompass several thousand engine cycles, is scheduled to begin in mid-2002.
In 2000, CFM signed an agreement with Airbus Industrie to develop the CFM56-5C/P for the Airbus A340-300 Enhanced to provide operators more range, better fuel burn, and lower maintenance costs. In addition to offering the engine on the A340 Enhanced, CFM also plans to offer current A340 customers an upgrade kit incorporating this new hardware.
