Confirms Operation Of Basic Aircraft Systems
A T-1A aircraft (pictured, right)
with the modification to support CSO training, had its first flight
Wednesday, according to a Camber Corporation news release. The
aircraft took off at 1116 EDT from Dayton International Airport and
flew for 1 hour and 55 minutes. The purpose of the flight was
to confirm operation of basic aircraft systems in preparation for
future test flights which will concentrate on the newly added CSO
training systems.
"I want to congratulate the Camber Team on a job well
done! Camber, Stevens Aviation and Government personnel have
worked well together. After a fast-paced year of system design,
design reviews, and aircraft modifications, the first T-1A CSO
aircraft completed its first flight today. We are excited
about the first flight and look forward to the installation of the
completed CSO software onto the aircraft so that we can test the
CSO Training System," said Albert Ojeda, USAF Program
Manager.
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The T-1A CSO Modification contract was awarded to Camber on
March 31, 2009 and the aircraft have been upgraded with a
suite of simulated sensors (Radar, Radar Warning Receiver,
Electronic Support Measures), countermeasures (flares, chaff), and
weapon systems for two students in order to support CSO training.
Provisions for two instructors are also provided, allowing them to
oversee the student actions, and insert tactical and weather
scenarios into the simulated environment. A debrief capability is
also included and allow instructors to review the flight with the
student in a classroom or office environment.
The modified T-1A aircraft with the CSO training station is
part of the USAF's Air Education and Training Command (AETC)
redesign of the current Navigator, Electronic Warfare Officer, and
Weapon System Officer training pipeline in order to produce
aviator's skilled in advance navigation systems, electronic
warfare, weapons deployment, and able to operate the complex
systems critical to the Air Force mission.
"The successful, on schedule, initial flight paves the way for
formal testing and the installation of the training system at Naval
Air Station Pensacola," said Mike Pafford, Camber T-1A Program
Manager.
Camber is teamed with Stevens Aviation, a leading aviation
services company, who modified the T-1A aircraft at their facility
in Dayton, OH, from where the modified T-1A aircraft was launched
last week.
According to Ron Tennyson, Stevens Aviation Program Manager, the
aircraft has been fitted with an Automatic Dependent Surveillance
Broadcast system that provides the training system with air traffic
information and aircraft to aircraft data that can be used for air
to air training missions.