Aging Aircraft Subsystems. Equipment Life Extension within the Tornado Program
Abstract
Restrictions on nations military budgets require that Air Forces will operate high sophisticated weapon systems such as military aircraft far beyond their original designed life. Modernization, life extension and aging aircraft programs are defined to ensure that future mission requirements can be fulfilled and the airworthiness of the aircraft is maintained until the out of service date. Whilst the operational life is increasing, various aging effects take place and impair the structural and functional integrity of high aged aircraft subsystems even before their design life are reached. An integrated process was defined between customer and industry with the aim of extending the operational life of the aircraft under limited budgetary conditions and tight timescales. Under the scope of this task, aging of equipment and components the impact of aging problems on structural and functional integrity, the impact of customer extended operational requirements on equipment limitations and the consequences of age related failures on flight safety have been assessed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADP010437
Entities
People
- G. Blech