Another area in the development of the F-35 where BAE Systems’ expertise is important is in de-risking the Flight Test Instrumentation (FTI) system on the aircraft.
This proved especially challenging and required a unique approach. Normally the crucial task of testing the data acquisition system on modern military aircraft is completed using the aircraft’s own FTI system.
In the case of the F-35, however, testing the on-board systems needed to be carefully co-ordinated as the system is fitted at Fort Worth, Texas, USA but the tail sections are built in the UK. This means that BAE Systems at Samlesbury has to power up and function check every fitted transducer and the associated aircraft wiring during building.
The approach gives a high level of confidence that the whole system is functioning. Yet again HBK’s equipment provides BAE Systems’ engineers with the tools they need.
By using HBK’s MGCplus and catman® Professional software to capture and analysethe data, BAE Systems is able to conduct the tests easily and accurately. The equipment is used to gather data from a wide range of transducers including strain gauges, pressure transducers and accelerometers.
After consulting with HBK, BAE Systems chose a system centred on 48 channels for strain gauge input, 16 channels for accelerometer input and eight thermocouples input. In addition HBK supplied on-site training and support.