Title

Investigation of an Integrated Aircrew Escape/Rescue System Capability (AERCAB).

Date

1969

Index Abstract

Not Available

Photo Quality

Complete

Report Number

AFFDL TR 68-159

Creator

Manzuk, Robert J.

Peck, Walter R.

Yost, Charles A.

Duncan, James W.

Braunlich, E. A.

Corporate Author

Stencel Aero Engineering Corp Arden NC

Laboratory

Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory

Extent

378

NTRL Accession Number

AD860590

Identifier

AD0860590

Access Rights

Export Controls

Distribution Classification

1

Contract

F33615-68-C-1461

DoD Project

6065

DoD Task

606509

DTIC Record Exists

No

Distribution Change Authority Correspondence

AFFDL LTR

Distribution Conflict

No

Special Scanning Requirements

fold out pages

Abstract

A concept was investigated whereby aircrewmembers are given a capability to aid in their own rescue subsequent to emergency ejection from their mission vehicle. The self-rescue capability was achieved by way of integrating a parawing into the ejection-seat escape system to provide an aerodynamic-lift generating surface, and also a twin-turbofan jet engine to provide propulsion for gaining altitude and departing from the emergency site toward a safe area for liason with allied forces. The escape/rescue system analyses concluded that in the conventional ejection/recovery mode of operation the AERCAB provides a survival capability surpassing that of currently in-service systems. In the self-rescue mode, AERCAB is capable of flight at 10,000 feet (MSL) over a distance of fifty nautical miles at airspeeds approaching 100 knots. The system is manually controllable in both powered and unpowered flight, and it appears feasible to incorporate an automatic homing flight control system. AERCAB is shown capable of adverse weather operation in powered flight provided suitable protective clothing is worn by the occupant. Under all emergency circumstances, the aircrewman using AERCAB retains the capability to descend to terrain level with his personnel parachute. A detailed preliminary design study was accomplished, and it is shown that the system is retrofittable in the existing crewstations of the A-7 and F-4 aircraft with only minor modifications thereto. The investigative program resulted in the generation of specific operational and design criteria for an integrated aircrew escape/rescue system capability; operational and performance limits thereof were defined; and it was analytically shown that the AERCAB concept is feasible, and merits continued study, experimental testing, and development. A full-scale system mockup was prepared during the program, and delivered to the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory integrated in a simulation of the A-7 crewstation.

Report Availability

Full text available

Date Issued

1969-01

Provenance

Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control

Type

report

Format

1 online resource