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Meeting	ACGS Committee Meeting 105 - Lake Tahoe - March 2010
Agenda Location	4 GENERAL COMMITTEE TECHNICAL SESSION 4.2 Research Institutions, Industry and University Reports 4.2.2 Research Institutions and Companies 4.2.2.4 Calspan
Title	Calspan
Presenter	Lou Knotts
Available Downloads*	presentation
	Downloads are available to members who are logged in and either Active* or attended this meeting.
Abstract	Recent activities at Calspan include the following projects: • Piasecki X-49A Speedhawk PFCS • Learjet – Automated Aerial Refueling • Learjet – Sense & Avoid Flight Test • USNTPS ASTARS • 2008 Learjet OPV Demonstration • Navy SBIR Phase 1 & 2 Unmanned Operation of Fly-by-wire Testbed Aircraft The Piasecki X-49A is a compound helicopter with a ducted fan propeller on the tail instead of a tail rotor. It has already flown but control of all effectors are manually controlled by the pilot, which is a high workload task. Calspan is currently working on a variable directional control augmentation system for the X-49A in order to help reduce pilot workload. The AFRL Automatic Air Refueling project is a multi-year project that has been using the Calspan variable Stability Learjet as the simulated unmanned air vehicle. The current phase of the project is currently being flown at Forbes Field, Kansas in February and March 2010 to evaluate relative navigation between the tanker and Learjet, data links, and EGIs. The AFRL Sense and Avoid Flight Test is another AFRL project that uses the variable stability Learjet to evaluate sensors and algorithms that will allow UAVs to fly in the National Airspace under the requirement to “see and avoid” other traffic. The most recent phase of the project was flown during the Fall of 2009 with a full sensor suite and single and multiple intruders. During 2010 preparations will be made for a 2011 flight test program. Calspan recently won the US Navy Test Pilot School ASTARS project to provide an airborne systems training aircraft. A Saab 340 twin engine turborprop aircraft was purchased for the mission and Calspan added the sensors, a student station and instructor station in the rear of the airplane. The airplane was delivered to NAS Patuxent in January 2010 and is currently flying TPS students. In 2008 Calspan conducted a remote landing demonstration of the Variable Stability Learjet at our Niagara Falls facility. The aircraft was operated as an optionally piloted vehicle with an onboard safety pilot. Dana Purifoy, Calspan’s Chief Test Pilot, landed the airplane numerous times by reference to a ground station in the control room. A follow-up effort related to this activity was the NAWC-WD Phase 1 SBIR N09-038 sponsored by the JSF program. The purpose of the project was to develop a OPV (Optionally Piloted Vehicle) from an existing FBW aircraft for use as a test bed aircraft to support Avionics and Weapon System development. Calspan recently received the Phase 2 for this SBIR to develop and build prototype OPV system, Airborne, Datalink and Ground Station utilizing a Calspan-operated F-16C aircraft presently supporting NAWC-WD from Mojave CA. A manned flight demonstration is planned for 2012.