Control room represents upgrade for flight tests

By Skip Vaughn (Redstone)April 20, 2012

Control room represents upgrade for flight tests
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Control room represents upgrade for flight tests
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Onlookers in the control room watched the Iraqi 407 helicopter on the video screen as it accelerated and ascended.

The aircraft, a Bell 407 with military modifications, was undergoing a flight load survey test at the Redstone Airfield. The Iraqi government is buying about 30 modified aircraft from the United States through a foreign military sales case.

The Redstone Test Center's new Flight Test Control Center showed live footage of the ongoing test April 10 as part of the control room's grand opening.

"It's really a big deal for us," RTC commander Col. Steve Kihara said of the new facility.

In the past, test engineers had to work in trailers and conduct tests on one aircraft at a time. With this new permanent facility, they can monitor in real time with increased flight safety, more accurate data and they can test two aircraft simultaneously. The room can accommodate up to 18 flight test engineers.

"This is state-of-the-art. This is absolutely beautiful," Kihara said. "A lot of people (in the community) have put into this. We're just the benefiter."

Maj. Richard Bratt, commander of the Aviation Flight Test Directorate, gave an overview in the control center for the grand opening's attendees.

"Our main mission (at AFTD) is to conduct developmental flight tests on Army aviation aircraft and systems," Bratt said.

Maj. Jim DeBoer, chief of the systems integration simulation division, described the control center's capabilities. The flight test control center is developed and operated by his division.

Flight test engineer Shane Klase outlined the Iraqi 407 test program. "A test like this (flight load survey) normally goes about six months," Klase said.

The flight test control center represents the latest development in telemetry ground stations for the Redstone Test Center.