Setting the Foundation for Flight Test - The AC-1 30U Gunship Drag Reduction Program U.S. Air Force Academy

Format:

Conference/Event

Author/Creator:

Yechout, Thomas R., author.

Conference Name:

World Aviation Congress & Exposition (1998-09-28 : Anaheim, California, United States)

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Warrendale, PA SAE International 1998

Summary:

An experimental wind tunnel investigation and computational performance evaluation was conducted which focused on reducing the incremental drag resulting from external modifications to the fuselage of the AC- 130U Gunship. The objective of this effort was to establish a solid foundation via experimental and computational ground efforts to support flight test of drag reduction modifications to an aircraft. Currently, additive drag resulting from AC- 13 0U modifications decreases the range of the aircraft, increases the infrared heat signature of the engine exhaust due to the need for higher power settings, and has an adverse impact on takeoff and engine out performance. Specifically, the program consisted of six major thrusts:High drag contributors are identified and methods of reducing the drag are presented. As a result of the investigation, recommendations were made to remove the spoilers in front of the 25 mm Gatling gun and the 40 mm Bofors cannon, to replace the spoiler in front of the 105 mm Howitzer, and to add fairings on the FLIR pod, Left Sensor Array, 40 mm cannon barrel, and 105 mm Howitzer blast suppresser. With these modifications, a drag reduction potential of 29 drag counts was projected.Operational impact9 of an approximate drag reduction of 29 drag counts on the AC- 130U was projected to include:

Notes:

Vendor supplied data

Publisher Number:

985532

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license