Fri, Jan 21, 2011
Full Scale Static Tests Exceed Highest Expected Flight Loads By
50 Percent
Boeing said Thursday that it completed full scale static testing
of the P-8A Poseidon’s airframe on Jan. 7. The series of
tests, which began in May 2009, confirmed the airframe's structural
integrity. “The structure performed as we expected throughout
testing, allowing us to efficiently expand the P-8A’s
flight-test envelope,” said Chuck Dabundo, Boeing vice
president and P-8 program manager. “Our static test plan was
successful thanks to the combined efforts of Boeing’s design,
analysis, and test teams and our U.S. Navy customer.”
S1 -- the program’s full-scale static ground-test vehicle
-- underwent 154 different tests in which it sustained loads equal
to or greater than those expected to occur during operational
flights, with no failure of the primary structure. During 74 of the
tests, the airframe was subjected to 150 percent of the highest
expected flight loads. More than 4,000 installed strain gages and
calibrated parts captured data for analysis.
In September, the Boeing P-8A team will begin refurbishing S1 to
prepare it for live-fire testing at Naval Air Warfare Center, China
Lake, Calif. Boeing will begin fatigue tests on its second
ground-test vehicle, S2, later this year. The Navy plans to
purchase 117 of the P-8A anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface
warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to
replace its P-3 fleet. Initial operational capability is planned
for 2013.
A derivative of the Boeing Next-Generation 737-800, the P-8A
Poseidon is built by a Boeing-led industry team that includes CFM
International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems, BAE
Systems and GE Aviation.
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