SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AEROSPACE REPORTS
A Biweekly Publication of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
VOLUME 44, ISSUE 3 - February 10, 2006
05 AIRCRAFT DESIGN, TESTING AND PERFORMANCE
Includes all stages of design of aircraft and aircraft structures and systems.
Also includes aircraft testing, performance and evaluation, and aircraft and flight simulation technology.
For related information see also 18 Spacecraft Design, Testing and Performance and 39 Structural Mechanics.
For land transportation vehicles see 85 Technology Utilization and Surface Transportation.
20060004974 National War Coll., Washington, DC USA
The TFX Decision: The Joint Canard
Talbot, Gerald L., Jr; Dec. 18, 1992; 11 pp.; In English Report No.(s): AD-A440831; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy
In the early 1960's the USA needed replacement aircraft designs for both the Air Force and the Navy. The TFX (to become the F-111) was born and for some time struggled through a difficult development, testing and evaluation and combat periods before the Navy version of the aircraft was terminated and the total Air Force buy was considerably reduced. Why did a project with so much promise to provide a joint, reliable and cost-saving aircraft fail to achieve any of these three objectives? The answer lies in the understanding of the organizational paradigms and bureaucratic politics that influenced and guided the behavior of the competing organizations (Department of Defense, Contractor and Congress) that were ostensively working as a team to produce a product. This paper will show how the TFX aircraft was seriously impeded from any measure of success by conflicting organizational goals and political actions. DTIC
Aircraft Design; Canard Configurations; Fighter Aircraft; Government Procurement; Jet Aircraft; Training Aircraft
20060004975 National War Coll., Washington, DC USA
The V-22 Controversy
Tracy, Phil; Stafford,; Stevenson,; Dec. 18, 1992; 20 pp.; In English Report No.(s): AD-A440855; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy
In the early to late 198015, the V-22 Osprey was on-track to full production, until the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) unexpectedly canceled the program in 1989. Cancellation of the V-22 program caused a firestorm of opposition in Congress in the end all sides appear to have won. OSD cancellation of the V-22 program and subsequent Congressional reaction set the stage for a unique political battle amongst varied interests. The 'bureaucratic politics' employed by the various actors in the cancellation and resurrection of the V-22 will be examined under the lights of Congressional, OSD, Bell-Boeing and Marine Corps interests. The essence of 'bureaucratic politics' as applied to this case can be characterized as the malevolently emotional and tangential political route the V-22 program has travelled. DTIC
Tilt Rotor Aircraft; V-22 Aircraft
20060004979 National War Coll., Washington, DC USA
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Policy Paper for the President's National Security Advisor. Policy Implications: Sale of F-16s to Taiwan
Pelletier, Robert L.; Jan. 1, 1993; 12 pp.; In English Report No.(s): AD-A440762; NDU/NWC-93-51; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy
On September 2, 1992, President Bush announced his Administration's proposal to sell up to 150 F-16 fighters to Taiwan. Although the proposed sale was generally viewed as a means to win votes in the President's home state of Texas, the Congress eventually approved the sale. This Administration is now faced with the domestic and foreign policy implications of that decision. Domestically, the sale equates to jobs in the struggling aircraft industry, export sales to help lessen the U.S. trade deficit, and a means to maintain U.S. military aircraft production without U.S. defense expenditures. Although the sale's domestic consequences are resoundingly positive, it raises key questions for U.S.-China relations and Asian political stability. Specifically, does the sale abrogate long-standing agreements with the Chinese on arms sales to Taiwan? Will it adversely impact U.S.-China trade relations? Does it up the ante on an arms race between China and Taiwan and destabilize the region? Does the sale threaten U.S. initiatives to stop China's sale of ballistic missiles and other weapons to Third World countries? This paper examines these issues and recommends actions that best serve U.S. domestic and foreign policy interests. DTIC
China; F-16 Aircraft; Fighter Aircraft; Foreign Policy; International Relations; Jet Aircraft; Policies; Security; Taiwan
20060004980 Naval Air Warfare Center, Patuxent River, MD USA
The Potential Effect of Maturing Technology Upon Future Seaplanes
Bellanca, August; Matthews, Carey; Apr. 1, 2005; 155 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Report No.(s): AD-A440880; NAWCADPAX/TR-2005/230; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A08, Hardcopy
This study identifies viable, existing technologies that would potentially improve seaplane performance and evaluate the impact of the technology on seaplane design. Three conceptual seaplanes were created as the baseline for comparison. Two technology areas for drag reduction were investigated. The first area investigated the effect that the seaplane step has during the cruise portion of the flight. This was done by calculating the drag and performance of a seaplane with a fixed step and with a retractable step. The second area focused on weight reduction and improved aerodynamic performance through the use of an all composite structure. Other areas of interest included the effects to takeoff gross weight if the design payload or the design range was increased or decreased. The results and conclusions of this study can be found in sections 4 and 5 in this report. A brief discussion of additional technologies to be studied can be found in section 6 of this report. DTIC
Design Analysis; Drag Reduction; Growth; Seaplanes
20060004981 National War Coll., Washington, DC USA
To Clip an Osprey's Wings
Jensen, Harry; Dec. 20, 1991; 13 pp.; In English Report No.(s): AD-A440796; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy
Old news? Maybe so, but it makes an understanding of how decisions affecting our national security strategy are made more important than before. Why? Because, if a military service is to compete effectively for a fair share of the smaller defense pie, it must sharpen its skills at bureaucratic politics. While bureaucratic politics may be a four letter word to some readers, it is a fact of life in any organization military or civilian. Influence is wielded unevenly by individuals and organizations in a bureaucracy. Therefore, organizational success is ensured only by knowing how to influence the bureaucratic process which allocates the resources to carry out the national security strategy. Mow can skills in bureaucratic politics be sharpened? One way is by examining lessons learned from case studies of the process of awarding major defense contracts. The case study chosen for use here is of the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft program. The Osprey's wings were first clipped by Secretary of Defense Cheney in April 1989, when he decided to reprogram FY89 long lead procurement money for the V-22 (but allowed the R&D program to continue). Given the backdrop of the drastic decline in real buying power in the defense budget in the near term, it should not be surprising that the rationale cited for clipping the Osprey's wings was affordability and 'relatively low priority Jensen within the larger scope of our national defense needs. However, the Osprey still flies. Secretary Cheney has not succeeded in killing it to date. The story of the Osprey's development has as many twists as the road to the top of Pike's Peak. It is an example of how bureaucratic politics --writ large-- function today in Washington. DTIC
Clips; Security; Tilt Rotor Aircraft; Wings
20060004985 National War Coll., Washington, DC USA
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To Fly a Falcon: An Exercise in Bureaucratic Politics
McAllister, Branford J.; Dec. 18, 1992; 15 pp.; In English Report No.(s): AD-A440829; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy
To procure a new major weapons system, one might envision an orderly process of articulating a need based on a scenario and a threat, identifying candidates to fulfill that need, selecting the best, and then negotiating a price with the winning contractor. And, in fact, this Process has been followed at times, but not always.
The decision to produce the F-16 'Fighting Falcon' for the US Air Force was not a solution discovered by detached analysts focusing coolly on the problem. Rather, the explanation really lies In a complex game of negotiations, bargaining, and deals Involving a number of Influential players within the government, In industry, and overseas.
This paper analyzes this 'game' --a procurement decision that was an outcome of bureaucratic politics. We will review the factors leading up to the decision. look at the players involved, then analyze the process which brought these players into a final decision. DTIC
Decision Making; Fighter Aircraft; Physical Exercise; Politics; Weapon Systems
20060005235 Northrop Grumman Corp., El Segundo, CA USA
Design and Testing of a 30-Degree Sweep Laminar Flow Wing for a High-Altitude Long-Endurance Aircraft
Solomon Jr, William D.; Drake, Aaron; Reed, Helen L.; Saric, William S.; Oct. 1, 2004; 41 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Report No.(s): AD-A440895; No Copyright; Avail.: Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)
No abstract available
High Altitude; Laminar Flow; Reynolds Number; Swept Wings
20060005244 Air Force Research Lab., Kirkland AFB, NM USA
Hypersonic Force Application and Launch Technology Demonstration
Walker, Steven H.; Partch, Russ; Qassim, Ken; Sep. 14, 2004; 29 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Report No.(s): AD-A440964; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy
PROGRAM GOAL: Develop and validate (in-flight) technologies that will enable both near-term and far-term capabilities to execute prompt global strike missions while (at the same time) demonstrating affordable and responsive space lift. DTIC
Aerospace Vehicles; Hypersonic Forces; Hypersonic Vehicles; Launch Vehicles; Launching; Standard Launch Vehicles
20060005277 Northrop Grumman Information Technology, Inc., Fairborn, OH USA
Mobility Aircraft Availability Forecasting (MAAF) Model
Vincent, Patrick J.; Allen, Christopher S.; Hill, Ray; Ciarallo, FrankW.; Randall, Christian E.; Jul. 1, 2004; 43 pp.; In English Contract(s)/Grant(s): F33615-99-D-6001; Proj-1710 Report No.(s): AD-A441057; AFRL-HE-WP-TR-2005-0150; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy
The primary objectives of the Nobility Aircraft Availability Forecasting (MAAF) research effort included: Defining an initial set of requirements and a design for a simulation based modeling application to assist Air Mobility Command (AMC) logistics planners and analysts in assessing and predicting AMC aircraft availability based on mission requirements; and developing a proof-of-concept demonstration to convey the important characteristics and features of MAAF. To achieve these objectives, the MAAF research effort was divided into three primary tasks that included defining functional and technical requirements, designing the critical components of an object-oriented modeling and simulation application to address these requirements, and developing a proof-of-concept demonstration. DTIC
Aircraft; Forecasting; Logistics; Mobility; Models; Object-Oriented Programming
20060005287 Air Force Inst. of Tech., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH USA
Timing of Increasing Electron Counts From Geosynchronous Orbit to Low Earth Orbit
Olson, Kirk M.; Jan. 1, 2005; 100 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Report No.(s): AD-A441120; AFIT/GAP/ENP/05-06; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A05, Hardcopy
Under certain conditions, high energy electron fluxes can increase over short periods of time in the outer radiation belt and diffuse to low altitudes. Sudden increases of high energy electron densities at low altitudes can drastically damage unsuspecting low-earth-orbit satelites. The progression of electron flux increases from a geosynchronous orbit to low-earth orbit during an electron event is somewhat unknown. If the beginning of electron flux increases at low-earth-orbits could be anticipated, warnings could be issued to space system operators allowing time to take proper measures to protect and minimize satellite damage extending satellite lifetimes and space mission operations. The Compact Environment Anomaly Sensors (CEASE) onboard the DSP-21 and TSX-5 satellites collected dosimeter data of electrons \g 1.2 MeV and protons \g 25 MeV. The orbits of the satellites and the particle detection of CEASE provided an opportunity to sample the high energy electron population fluxes at GEO and LEO during electron events. The high energy electron CEASE data was extracted from DSP-21 and TSX-5 when each satellite crossed an approximate geosynchronous L-Shell range (L=6.5-6.7). Onsets of electron events at each orbit were determined from the data. Onset comparison showed the progression of elevated electron fluxes from GEO to LEO to be between one and four days. Further comparison of the electron events to solar wind data suggests that high speed streams are necessary, not sufficient, for an electron event to occur. DTIC
Counting; Earth Orbits; Electromagnetic Fields; Electrons; Flux (Rate); Geosynchronous Orbits; Low Earth Orbits; Radiation Belts
20060005330 Army Research Lab., Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD USA
Effects of the FLASHJET Paint Removal Process on the Fatigue Properties of Al 7075-T6 and Al 2024-T3
Champagne, Victor K.; Grendahl, Scott M.; Campbell, Jim; Sep. 1, 2005; 60 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Report No.(s): AD-A441234; ARL-TR-3618; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A04, Hardcopy
The purpose of this study was to determine if the FLASHJET process affects the fatigue properties of two aluminum alloys that are commonly used as skin substrates in Army rotorcraft: (1) Al 2024-T3 and (2) Al 7075-T6. The two aluminum alloys were tested in high-cycle fatigue using thin fatigue coupons that were machined prior to painting and paint removal by the FLASHJET process. The high-cycle fatigue properties of these alloys were not degraded by the FLASHJET paint removal technique. This was true whether the specimens were depainted once to saturation or with five painting-depainting cycles simulating typical lifetime conditions. This finding concurs with other studies using similar testing parameters. Through a statistical analysis, the FLASHJET-processed specimens showed a statistically significant improvement in fatigue lifetimes under several testing conditions. DTIC
Aluminum; Aluminum Alloys; Paint Removal; Paints
20060005496 National War Coll., Washington, DC USA
National Security Decision-Making and Electoral Politics: The Case of the 1992 Sale of F-16s to Taiwan
Norris, John J., Jr; Jan. 1, 1995; 19 pp.; In English Report No.(s): AD-A440774; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy
This paper applies Graham Allison's bureaucratic paradigm to the Bush administration's 1992 sale of F-16 aircraft to Taiwan and, in so doing, attempts to illustrate the model's utility as well as its limitations in explaining the national security decision-making process. The National Security Council (NSC) staff, Defense Department, and State Department were split over the proposed sale -- a reflection of the differing policy preferences and organizational perspectives of the players from those agencies. But these interagency deliberations, on which the bureaucratic model focuses its analysis, had little impact on the President's decision. Instead, as this paper will argue, electoral considerations, specifically, the perceived political consequences of large-scale worker lay-offs at the F-16 production facility in Texas, a key state for George Bush's reelection campaign, were decisive in leading the President to approve the fighter sale. The F-16 sale, which was preceded by intense lobbying by the plane's manufacturer and members of Congress, demonstrates that the context of national security decision-making is broader than the executive branch bureaucracy, and that domestic political and economic factors often intervene in the process. DTIC
Decision Making; Economics; F-16 Aircraft; Fighter Aircraft; International Relations; Jet Aircraft; Politics; Security; Taiwan
Source: NASA
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