Survey and Evaluation of Electrical Power Sources as to Their Potential Application with the 500-Pound Controlled Airdrop Cargo System
Abstract
The 500-pound CACS is an electronically guided, gliding cargo airdrop system that can deliver critical materials and supplies to troops in remote or hostile areas at any time of day or night under a wide range of weather and terrain conditions. Because the drop aircraft does not have to fly directly over the target area, the aircrew conducting the drop is assured greater safety because the delivery aircraft can remain out of danger zones while making the drop. The CACS is currently in the Engineering Test phase. The system consists of a parawing glider, a control unit that receives signals from a transmitter and steers the glider, the payload, and the transmitter on which the glider homes. The system is capable of automatically delivering 300 to 600 pounds of cargo to within 200 feet of a ground radio transmitter from altitudes of 500 to 25,000 feet. The airborne portion, consisting of the parawing and the control unit, weighs approximately 80 pounds (excluding payload) and can be dropped from any cargo-carrying aircraft. The payload hits the ground with approximately the same impact as a parachute-dropped load, approximately 20 fps in vertical descent. Its horizontal velocity approaches 50 fps.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0877278
Entities
People
- John W. Dunlop