Boeing 767 Proximity Evaluation with F/A-18C and S-3B Aircraft
Abstract
The Boeing Company participated in the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft program which was intended to provide aerial refueling and aerial transport capability to the United Kingdom Royal Air Force under a Private Finance Initiative. Boeing contracted NAWCAD Patuxent River, Maryland, under a commercial service agreement to determine if an area of acceptable wake turbulence existed in the proximity of a 767 aircraft in order to perform the aerial refueling mission. This was accomplished by evaluating the 767 aerodynamic and wake turbulence effects on two receiver aircraft (F/A-18C and S-3B) at locations behind the 767, which approximated potential aerial refueling engagement areas. During the period of 22 and 23 June 2000, three F/A-18 and three S-3B flights were flown totaling 5.8 F/A-18 flight-hours, 6.7 S-3B flight-hours, and 12.5 767 flight-hours. A Lear 35 cinematography aircraft was used to document test results. The test program consisted of proximity evaluations only with no aerial refueling pods installed on the 767 aircraft and no receiver-to-"tanker" engagements. All flights were conducted within the Patuxent River restricted or local warning areas. At the positions evaluated, areas of acceptable wake turbulence existed for the F/A-18C and the S-3B in the proximity of the 767 aircraft in order to perform the aerial refueling mission. Recommend that testing continue to evaluate the 767 tanker aircraft.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 30, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA389851
Entities
People
- B. Markowich
- Matthew Guidry
- S. Whitley
Organizations
- Naval Air Warfare Center