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Meeting	ACGS Committee Meeting 96 - Hilton Head - October 2005
Agenda Location	4 GENERAL COMMITTEE TECHNICAL SESSION 4.2 Research Institutions, Industry and University Reports 4.2.2 Research Institutes and Companies 4.2.2.4 Calspan
Title	Calspan
Presenter	Eric Ohmit
Available Downloads*	presentation video
	Downloads are available to members who are logged in and either Active* or attended this meeting.
Abstract	Calspan has had a busy first 8 months since its reformation in February 2005. The new hangar in Niagara Falls, NY is open for business. This Hangar is the new home of the Flight Research and Vehicle Engineering groups and is located at the Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG). This was a $13.3M, 3 year project which used a combination of NYS grants and private funding. This state-of-the-art 82,500 sq ft facility located on a 9.9 acre site is able to accommodate 2 B737-200 sized aircraft and contains both offices and aircraft maintenance facilities. This site has sufficient room for an additional 60,000 sq ft hangar Calspan has participated in a contract funded and sponsored by AFRL which utilized our #2 variable stability Learjet for the JUCAS Automatic Aerial Refueling program. Initial test flights were carried out in September 2004 with the Niagara Falls ANG KC-135 to gather data for Boeing and Northrop Grumman PGPS and EO sensors which will be used. 8 flights, 12.2 Flt-Hrs were flown (video shown). A Second Flight Test Program was conducted during September 2005 at NAWCWD China Lake, CA. This test was to verify the use of the Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT) data link for simulated Aerial Refueling and Carrier Approaches. This system was developed by Rockwell Collins. Five other aircraft (NAVAIR E-2C, F15, F-18, Revere B-707, T-39 & R-C Saberliner) and three ground stations participated in the flight tests. Seven Flights, 9.7 Flt-Hrs and many days of integration and ground tests were conducted. The Lear 2 is also undergoing several modifications in support of future AAR work through the installation of a servoed throttle for control of the speed degree of freedom. This system was utilized for an AFTPS Test Management Project to evaluate an Autonomous Formation Flight program. This program completed 7 flights during October 3rd through 14th. Additional AAR flights are planned for Autonomous Position keeping in May through July 2006 and final Automated closed-loop tests and trajectory control (observation, pre-contact, contact & breakaway) during June through July 2007. We are completing the variable stability system modifications of our third Learjet and expect them to be completed in March 2006. These modifications should enhance the variable stability system capabilities and pilot interface. Other upcoming programs include the STI Feel System evaluation and on-going programs for the Air Force and Navy Test Pilot schools, EPNER, National TPS and FAA PIO workshop training. The Total In-flight Simulator is being used to support Boeing for advanced control system testing. This program was conducted during June 2005 completing 7 flights and 11 hours, further testing will be completed during October/November 2005 for four additional flights. VISTA has just completed an upgrade to the VSS computers by replacing the Intel based VME processors with PowerPCs. It has also re-entered the AFTPS Handling Qualities and Flight Control curriculum. Lastly we have begun the development of our Unmanned Vehicle Proving Ground in Ashford, NY. This facility is located on 600+ acres of property, owned by Calspan which includes an existing (~30 Acres) of cleared property on plateau, the property includes hilly terrain (~200 ft elevation changes and ravines. This property is bounded by Cattaraugus creek and sparsely populated farm and woodlands. Upgrades in work to make facility available for UAV and UGV testing include a runway 50x500’ initial with expansion to 50x1500’ a COA for UAV operations in airspace, telemetry and infrastructure to support flight testing. There is a potential for combined operations with UGVs and potential for interoperation with ordinance or explosives testing (existing gun and explosives range on-site)