An engineering flight test of the OH-6A helicopter equipped with the XM-27E1 armament subsystem was conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, California, by the US Army Aviation Test Activity. The objective of the test was to determine what effects the armament subsystem had on the performance and stability and control characteristics as compared with an aircraft without the armament subsystem. The testing consisted of 10.25 productive test hours and was conducted from 2 October 1967 through 24 October 1967. Performance degradation resulted from the drag imposed by the armament subsystem. The specific range at 2400 pounds gross weight decreased by 8 percent. The stability and control characteristics were essentially unchanged by the addition of the armament subsystem. During firing tests, there were no adverse control problems. However, during flight at 12 degrees left sideslip at 105 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS), the upper right windshield imploded. The sideslip angle should be limited to 8 degrees or less at 100 KIAS until the cause of the implosion can be determined. Noise level and vibration tests should be conducted during firing with the 'doors off' configuration. The performance data should be incorporated into the operator's manual. (Author)
Engineering Flight Test (Product Improvement Test) of Production OH-6A Helicopter Unarmed and Armed with the XM-27E1 Weapon System Phase D
1968
80 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch