VORTEX SURFING

C-17 Aircraft.  Credit:  U.S. Air Froce.

FROM: U.S. AIR FORCE

'Vortex surfing' could be revolutionary
by Roger Drinnon
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
10/10/2012 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) -- Migrating birds, NASCAR drivers and Tour de France bicyclists already get it. And now the Air Force is thinking about flying gas-guzzling cargo aircraft in formation -- 'dragging' off one another -- on long-haul flights across the oceans.

Flight tests with C-17s "vortex surfing" at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 6 and Oct. 2, have demonstrated potentially large savings of fuel and money by doing what geese do naturally. Tests show that flying in formation might be smarter than flying alone for Airmen, and not just for birds.

As one effort in the Air Force drive to reduce its overall fuel consumption, vortex surfing may be the wave of the future.

"The concept, formally known as Surfing Aircraft Vortices for Energy, or $AVE, involves two or more aircraft flying together for a reduced drag effect like what you see with a flock of geese," said Dr. Donald Erbschloe, the Air Mobility Command chief scientist.

A series of test flights involving two aircraft at a time, allowed the trailing aircraft to "surf" the vortex of the lead aircraft, positioning itself in the updraft to get additional lift without burning extra fuel.

Early indications from the tests promise a reduction of fuel consumption by up to 10 percent for the duration of a flight. Over long distances and with even a small fraction of Air Mobility Command's average of more than 80,000 flights a year, the fuel and cost savings could reach into the millions of dollars, experts say.

Next up: The Air Force Research Laboratory will analyze the data from for possible applications to other aircraft on a variety of missions.

Dr. Erbschloe said larger air mobility aircraft like the C-17 can fly in formations that are potentially easy to maintain and which do not require the planes to be exceptionally close together.

"The test flights were flown at longitudinal separations of 4,000 or greater," said William Blake, one of the key developers of $AVE at the AFRL.

According to AFRL officials, modified C-17 formation flight system software enabled precise auto-pilot and auto-throttle systems to ensure the trailing aircraft achieved and maintained proper flight position without active assistance from pilots.

"The autopilot held the position extremely well -- even close to the vortex," said Capt. Zachary Schaffer, an aircraft commander on one of the test flights. "The flight conditions were very safe; this was as hands-off as any current formation flying we do."
Other pilots found differing levels of ride quality and discovered some flight test points might be difficult for long-endurance flights.

"The key will be finding the right balance of quality for improving fuel efficiency and ride," said Maj. Eric Bippert, another aircraft commander on one of the test flights.

Bippert said being a part of the test program with so many talented engineers was a remarkable experience, and the concept could eventually impact global air transportation, overall.

"AMC has done really well with fuel efficiency at the operational level," said Erbschloe. "The command has worked to gain efficiencies from the 'low-hanging fruit' such as optimizing flight routing, reducing weight where possible, and by not carrying excess fuel. $AVE offers significant efficiency gains, if employed in concert with these initiatives."

He said early indications show the tests meet AMC criteria of the concept regarding safety and minimization of aircrew and aircraft strain while also being operationally sensible with a viable return on investment.

"AMC consumes 20 percent of the fuel used by the overall federal government, so we're constantly looking for pragmatic ways to improve our fuel efficiency," said Erbschloe.

"Assured energy advantage for our Air Force is only possible through revolutionary energy initiatives like $AVE," said Dr. Mark Maybury, Air Force chief scientist, upon hearing the results of the tests.

The $AVE concept was previously highlighted in the 2011 Energy Horizons study, sponsored by the Secretary of the Air Force and chaired by Maybury.

The tests were the culmination of an ongoing, combined effort between AMC, the AFRL, the 412th Test Wing, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Boeing Company and NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.


　

　

　

MODERNIZING THE LONG RANGE STRIKE B-52 STRATOFORTRESS

The B-52 Stratofortress crew from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., provide tours to the visitors during the ILA 2010 Berlin International Aerospace Exhibition and Conferences June 10. The Berlin Air Show features 1,153 exhibitors from 47 countries, including the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Julius Delos Reyes) 


FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ARMED WITH SCIENCE
Written on MAY 28, 2012 AT 7:08 AM by JTOZER
Upgrades for the B-52’s

During a recent visit to Edwards AFB, Calif., the commander of Air Force Global Strike Command spent time with B-52 Combined Test Force officials to preview the combat capability enhancements made to the B-52H Stratofortress.

Lt.Gen. Jim Kowalski operates the Combat Network Communications Technology program on board a B-52H Stratofortress test bomber May 2, 2012, at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jet Fabara) 

Modernizing and sustaining the nation’s long range strike aviation capability is a top priority for the command, Lt. Gen. Jim Kowalski said, who recently noted the B-52 has served and delivered decisive effects in many recent U.S. conflicts to include Operation Iraqi Freedom.

We’re celebrating this year as the Year of the B-52, marking both the 50th anniversary of the last delivery of a B-52H to Minot AFB, N.D., and the 60th anniversary of the first test flight of the YB-52, he said.

He attributed the reliability and combat capability of the dual-role bomber to the talented maintenance personnel, outstanding depot support and the Air Force’s continued investment in the airframe.

The B-52H is a dual-capable aircraft designed to carry a variety of weapons in support of a range of military operations. It has been projected for a number of upgrades that have already been made to the two B-52H test aircraft at Edwards AFB.

These upgrades are integral to ensuring the B-52H is both effective and able to fully integrate with other services, as envisioned in the Air Sea Battle concept, according to command officials.

Among the upgrades is a guided “smart weapon” capability in the B-52H’s internal weapons bay, which provides a 66 percent increase in guided weapons payload. Another current program is an upgrade to the latest Advanced Targeting Pod, which will increase the B-52H effectiveness when performing close air support and other missions.

One of the test aircraft at Edwards AFB also featured an improved on-board communications upgrade called Combat Network Communications Technology (CONECT).

The CONECT program brings the B-52H from the analog into the digital age, according to command officials, providing an invaluable data link over which to pass mission and threat data.
With the new defense strategy placing a greater emphasis on the Pacific, it’s really important that our bombers are fully networked and integrated with the joint force, Kowalski said.

The command provides a fleet of B-52Hs and a cadre of Airmen from Minot AFB and Barksdale AFB year-round in support of the continuous bomber presence mission in the Pacific, which ensures stability and peace in the region.

“Long-range, payload, persistence … these three attributes underlie key capabilities provided by Global Strike Command’s B-2 and B-52H fleet,” said Col. Rick Mitchell, the Bomber Requirements Division chief. “These attributes become increasingly important to combat the ‘tyranny of distance‘ posed by the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean.

“Integrating a beyond line-of-sight data link and installing new controls and color displays on the aircraft decreases the crew workload significantly,” Mitchell said “A controlling agency can now send mission updates to the B-52 via the data link without having to rely on voice communications.

“Because the data link is integrated with the aircraft offensive avionics system, the aircrew simply has to accept the mission change which is then automatically loaded into the avionics and weapons,” he continued. “Our current and temporary datalink solution does not provide us with this capability. The ability of CONECT to accomplish this retargeting allows for standoff weapons survivability and shorten the close air support kill chain.”

These digital enhancements will ensure the viability of the B-52H well into the 21st century, Mitchell said.
Courtesy of the Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress based out of Barksdale Air Force Base, La., participates at the Royal International Air Tattoo July 17, 2010, at RAF Fairford, United Kingdom. RIAT is held annually and boast itself as "the world's largest military airshow." (U.S. Air Force photo/Chief Master Sgt. Greg Wade) 

TESTS PILOTS AND CYBERSPACE

FROM:  U.S. AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND
Test Pilot School adds cyberspace training to its program.
by Laura Mowry

5/11/2012 - EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School has a long, rich history of educating the best of the best in air and space. Apollo 13 astronaut, Fred Haise; X-15 pilot, Joe Engle; and the first man to break the sound barrier, Chuck Yeager; are just a few of the notable Test Pilot School alumnae who have cemented their places in history books for their impressive accomplishments in both air and space.

Now that cyberspace is an integral part of the Air Force mission - it is time for TPS to educate the next generation of heroes.

"We are the place where the world comes to learn about test and evaluation. With the introduction of the Cyber Systems Test Course, we can now teach our graduates and others the framework for testing cyber systems in a contested environment," said Col. Noel Zamot, USAF TPS commandant. "This is the first course of its kind that includes a disciplined, yet flexible approach to testing cyber intensive systems."

The Cyber Systems Test Course provides Test Pilot School students with the knowledge and resources for successfully identifying and testing cyber vulnerabilities on a variety of systems. It provides students with a construct developed for identifying and testing cyber vulnerabilities, loosely based on a common decision making process known as the OODA Loop, which stands for observe, orient, decide, and act.

"The rigorous thought process applies to a wide variety of systems, whether it's testing vulnerabilities of a support system for the Joint Strike Fighter, the radar signal processer of a Global Hawk, or even a laser targeting pod for the B-1 or F-16," said Zamot. "We're asking students to think broadly about cyber vulnerabilities. I expect that students will look at systems in a disciplined fashion."

The course ensures that Test Pilot School students are better able to recognize cyber vulnerabilities, such as interference with precision airdrop missions and gives them the resources to not only identify that threat, but create an experiment to challenge it.

According to Zamot, the intensive curriculum of the Test Pilot School ensures that each graduate knows the entire test process, which includes mitigating cyber risks and vulnerabilities. It is their job as test professionals to lead people, bring experts together, and function as the glue and grease of the test program, even when it comes to cyber systems.

The need for the course became apparent during a visit approximately 18 months ago from Gen. Donald J. Hoffman, Air Force Material Command commander, during which he questioned how the school was integrating cyberspace studies into the curriculum.

"We were a little behind when it came to teaching cyber," said Zamot. "We were glad to have General Hoffman's support and interest. So, we talked to a number of folks and everyone agreed that the perfect person to help us develop the course was Dr. Kamal Jabbour."

The school immediately contacted Dr. Jabbour, the Air Force's senior scientist for information assurance, at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Information Directorate facility located in Rome, N.Y. The school invited Jabbour to take the Senior Executive Short Course to better understand the test culture and asked for his assistance in developing a cyber curriculum.

Jabbour, the Air Force's premiere information assurance scientist, with more than 30 years of experience developing systems-related curricula at the undergraduate and graduate levels, was the ideal candidate to work with the TPS on developing the Cyber Systems Test Course.

"We needed someone who has extensive knowledge of cyber and understands test and evaluation, as well as Test Pilot School limitations and constraints. In my mind, there was only one person in the world, and that was Dr. Jabbour," said Zamot.

Throughout his career, Jabbour has spent an immense amount of time educating top military leaders on the inherent threat associated with cyber vulnerabilities.

According to Jabbour, he began teaching Air Force ROTC cadets ten years ago and gradually made his way up to helping develop and even teaching the Cyber Operations Executive Course at Air University. Just a few years back, he taught every cyber component for flag officer courses at Air University, educating more than 200 General officers in one year.

His valuable expertise played a critical role in the development of the Cyber Systems Test Course, as he worked with the school to create a curriculum that will provide students with resources to evaluate and mitigate risk associated with cyber vulnerabilities, which will evolve as technology continues to advance.

"Aircraft functional dependence on software increased from next-to-nil with the F-4 Phantom to approximately 85 percent with the Joint Strike Fighter. It is increasingly important for testers to understand this dependence and test accordingly," said Jabbour.

After five months of working with the school and three visits to Edwards, the Cyber Systems Test Course was ready to be taught for the first time to the senior class, during the systems phase of the intensive year-long masters program.

"We sought to educate future developmental testers on evaluating weapons systems in a contested cyber environment through development of hypothesis, design of experiment, and creating of a test plan," said Jabbour. "I want the students to think critically about developing hypotheses to explain and challenge thoughts on aircraft functions."

Currently, the class has been taught three times to a variety of students, including during the school's first-ever Enlisted Flight Test Course. Initial feedback from all three classes was positive.

The intent moving forward is to expand on the class, which would drastically increase the length from four to six hours, to perhaps as lengthy as one week. Additionally, preparations are underway to write and present a formal scientific paper at a conference about the Cyber Systems Test Course framework.