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Show May 7, 1992 &j7 iesB's gdw ffDflglhi'O by Jim Garamone American Forces Information yDudleir Hilltop Times 9 wiy Service One of the base force concept's premises is that a smaller military needs more mobility. That's why the transport was one "winner" in the fiscal 1993 budget. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said the and fast sealift would receive more money than planned C-1- 7 C-1- 7 defense budget. prototype 7 is undergoing testing at Edwards AFB, Calif. The importance of the project to all services is mirrored in the establishment of a joint service combined test force. "This is a multiservice test program," said Air Force Col. Bob Black, test force director. "We integrated all Army and Marine Corps test requirements into our planning. We integrated the Army and Marine personnel into the Air Force develop- ment, test and evalua- tion team. They are also an integral part of our in the five-ye- ar The C-1- 66 operations test and evaluation team. "There has never been an Air Force airlift aircraft acquisition pro- There probably hasn't been another airplane with this gram of and Army magnitude that has accomplished as much such a short in New kid Marine Corps involvement," he said. "This is as it should be. Although it's an Air Force acquisition, the real users are the Army and to a lesser extent the Marine Corps." Black said the Army has made the 7 its top acquisition program. "They have put their resources on the line," he period of time. We've gotten a better start than we could have imagined. transport, as seen from two views. The C-1- Photos by Jim Garomone said. Air Force Col. Bob Black "Currently, the "This makes the plane very easy to handle," Black combined task force is said. "All of the pilots have been extremely happy involved with initial with the handling characteristics. We're excited flight testing on " the development air- about how fast we believe the airplane will mature." craft," he said. "This means pilots fly special test But like all new aircraft, some bugs have been demaneuvers to verify the aircraft's structural and tected in testing. "We don't have any handling qualities at various airspeeds and altihe said. "All the things we've found to tudes. date won't take a rocket scientist to fix." Two ex"We call it the 'envelope expansion phase,' "he amples are braces for the cargo door, which need to continued. "You fly the aircraft to see if it meets the be strengthened, and the leading edge slats on the parameters forecast by engineers. This is basic test- wings, which are susceptible to the heat of reverse ing all new aircraft go through, and it is especially thrusters upon landing. is the first crucial because the Test results have been sent to McDonnell-Douglathe plane's manufacturer, and changes will transport aircraft." is an innovation used in combat air- be made on production models. The test fleet will number five by late 1992. craft. Essentially, the pilot's flying controls work will cables, pul- The second aircraft, the first production by computer rather than and for be more used structural bellcranks. and tests, leys primarily Test force C-1- 7 testing. airdrop and austere-fielwill be used mostly for performance The third and avionics testing deemed critical to verify the transport's basic mission capabilities, Black said. The fourth will be dedicated to testing. "It will go into the Air Force climatic hangar at Eglin AFB, Fla., for cold soaking and heat soaking," Black said. "We will also take the aircraft on deployments to see how it will perform." The fifth plane, due in late 1992, faces further Air Force operational test and evaluation. Charleston AFB, S.C., is the first scheduled operbase. Follow-oational testing will continue even after the aircraft becomes operational, he said. "There probably hasn't been another airplane that has accomplished as much in such a short period of time," Black said. "We've gotten a better start than we could have imagined." d director C-1- . full-scal- e T-1,- C-1- 7 'fly-by-wir- e' C-1- s, Fly-by-wi- re C-1- 7 C-1- 7, can crew ended the mission after it was unable to determine the intentions of the Peruvian aircrew and unsuccessfully tried to communicate with the Peruvians through U.S. Southern Command headquarters, dead, 4 wounded attacks whenSU-2- 2 WASHINGTON (AFNS) -and aircraft. The aircraft had just finished flying a U.S. Southern Command mission approved by the Peruvian government when the incident happened off the coast of Peru, the Pentagon said in an April 27 coun-terdru- g press release. . MSgt. Joseph C. Beard Jr., 61st Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Howard AFB, Panama, was blown through an observation window of the unarmed it was shot at by a Soviet-buil- t C-1- 30 the Pentagon said. after SU-2- 2 fighter. One of the injured received serious wounds to the neck and chest and was listed in serious, but stable, condition April 28., Two received only next headed west to reach international airspace and then headed north, never getting closer than 60 miles to the coast, the Pentagon said. Peru claims sovereignty over waters and airspace out to 200 miles from its coast, but this contradicts international law which does The A crewmember is missing presumed dead and four others were injured when their aircraft was fired on April 24 by Peruvian military C-1- C-1- was then fired The upon on its right side, and as a result of these hits, rapid decompression C-13- 0 occurred, blowing out an observation window, through which Beard also was lost; minor scrapes and abrasions. A fourth crewman received superficial shrapnel wounds to the neck and chest and has since been released from the hospital. Reports indicate that the was flying within its approved space and was approached by a Peruvian aircraft as it was nearing C-13- 0 completion of its mission. The Ameri 0 not recognize claims beyond 12 miles. About hour and 20 minutes after was mission termination, the 0 SU-2- 2 two Peruvian intercepted by 1 C-13- fighters. The intercept occurred in daylight, clear weather and unlimited visibility. One of the fighters flew alongside the American plane and rocked its wings, a signal for the American crew to follow it. Because the mission was approved by the Peruvian government and was over internationsince the al waters, the aircraft continued its C-1- northerly course. 7 er show-stoppers- ," 1 C-1- 7 The U.S. aircrew attempted to contact the Peruvians and local air n 7 traffic controllers through internationally recognized distress signals, but again without success. Minutes later, the Pentagon said flew along the an SU-2right side, after which the Americans saw smoke and unidentified debris coming from the Peruvian aircraft. The crew thought this was chaff, but no tracer rounds were seen. The was then fired upon on its right side, and as a result of these hits, rapid decompression occurred, blowing out an observation window, through which Beard also was lost. Due to a loss of cabin pressure, the crew immediately began a descent into Peru, during which the aircraft C-13- 2 C-13- 0 C-1- was fired upon two times more. Dur- ing the last attack, the four other crewmen were injured. The crew then contacted Peruvian authorities and landed at El Pato airfield in northern Peru. The injured crewmen were treated at a local hospital and flown April 25 to Gor-ga- s Army Hospital in Panama. The engines, hydraulic and fuel systems, fuselage and landing gear on the were damaged. The U.S. Southern Command is investigating the incident. C-1- |