Edwards AFB Desert Wings Newspaper July 15, 2016

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Public Affairs, Volume 63, Number 52 July 15, 2016

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412th Test Wing Public Affairs

KC-46 returns to Washington sky for testingThe KC-46A Pegasus connected in flight with

an F-16 Fighting Falcon July 8 and a C-17 Globe-master III July 12.

These tests with the F-16 and C-17 were in support of the Milestone C requirements to rendezvous, contact, and transfer fuel to several receiver aircraft types.

An initial attempt with the F-16 earlier this year was successful, however higher-than-expect-ed axial loads on the boom were detected. These loads were again present during the initial attempt with the C-17 and necessitated installation of hydraulic pressure relief valves in the boom.

This week's successful tests show the boom axial loads hardware fix, designed by Boeing engineers, is performing as expected to alleviate the loads.

The 412th Test Wing is the lead developmental test organization for the KC-46 Tanker Program.

"I'm encouraged by these results. The KC-46 program continues to move forward, making important progress that will get this vital capabili-

ty into the hands of the warfighter," said Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James.

The final Milestone C flight test is to transfer fuel through the fixed boom to an A-10 Thunder-bolt. That test is also slated to occur this month.

"Once complete with the A-10, we will request approval from Frank Kendall, undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics,

A KC-46 Pegasus connects with a C-17 Globemaster III during testing in Washington State Tuesday. Testers made the C-17 connection just four days after connecting with an F-16 Fighting Falcon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chris Okula) See Tanker, page 3

to award production Lots 1 and 2, totaling 19 KC-46A aircraft," according to Darlene Costello, Air Force Service Acquisition executive.

"While it took some time, this week's results confirm my confidence the Boeing team will get this figured out. It's reassuring to see the program take this important step toward the production decision in August," said Gen. Dave Goldfein, chief of staff.

The KC-46A Pegasus is intended to replace the Air Force's aging tanker fleet, which has been refueling aircraft for more than 50 years. With more refueling capacity and enhanced capabilities, improved efficiency and increased capabilities for cargo and aeromedical evacua-tion, the KC-46A will provide aerial refueling support to the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, as well as allied nation coalition aircraft.

Innovation is the introduction of something new, an improved product or method. One innovation that’s not necessarily new but continues to demon-strate innovation is the RASCAL pod program at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School here.

Conceived in 2006, The Reconfigurable Airborne Sensor, Communica-tion and Laser - or RASCAL - pod provides a means of easily installing new instruments and technologies on board aircraft for flight testing.

According to Dan Carroll, program manager for the RASCAL pod, installing the test hardware in the pod, rather than into an aircraft, saves time and money.

“The pod has a tremendous impact on time,” Carroll said. “With current cutting edge technology, flight test equipment needs to be integrated, calibrated, and tested at the sub-system level. This can take weeks or months. We can’t always afford to take an aircraft off the line that long.”

With the RASCAL pod, the integration and calibration is done in the laboratory, then the pod is mounted on an aircraft for the flight tests. Since the aircraft no longer needs to be modified, it is available for other missions.

The pods are also useful for more short-notice projects. One example he cited was a project addition proposed by a customer, the Strategic Capabili-ties Office (SCO), with just five weeks’ notice before a scheduled flight test. “There is no way to accomplish the approval, design and installation on an Air Force aircraft in that time frame,” Carroll said. “With the pod, it was easily done.”

According to Carroll, DARPA, AFRL, defense contractors and other outside organizations request tests using the pods, or in many cases ask to

buy a RASCAL pod.In 2008 the pods’ size tended to limit the range of tests,

since the equipment has to fit in a relatively small space. But the advancement of technology and shrinking of components is increasing the number of projects that can be supported with the pod.

“As things get smaller, more projects are coming in,” Carroll said.The pods are also evolving, getting upgrades and modifications to

further increase their capabilities.One of the current projects the pod is facilitating is the exploration of

alternate navigation systems. Most electronic navigation systems rely on GPS. Should this, for any reason, become unavailable, then a backup system is always helpful. According to Carroll, this new method involves the aircraft looking at the stars overhead to help determine its position, much like sailors traditionally used a sextant, and simultane-ously looking at the ground like Google Earth.

The pods – there are currently three of them – are built from the chassis of SUU-20 rocket launchers that were either damaged or modi-fied and could not be returned to service in their original capacity. After intense engineering and mechanical metamorphosis, the RASCAL pod is created.

When the RASCAL pod was originally built, it was envisioned to fly on Edwards F-15s and T-38Bs also, but those aircraft have since left Edwards, leaving the F-16 as the sole Air Force platform for the RASCAL pod . It has flown on non-Air Force jets, but this is generally expensive and has schedule issues.

They are currently approved to fly up to Mach 1.2 on F-16s and will be cleared to fly on the T-38Cs, which get the centerline hard-point upgrade.

“This will increase our test capabilities and ease the pressure on the F-16 fleet here,” Carroll said.

RASCAL pod innovation enhances test capabilities By Christopher Ball 412th Test Wing Public Affairs

Two RASCAL pods running simultaneous tests saved more than $1 million of time for modification and lost missions (Courtesy photo)

See RASCAL, page 3

2 July 15, 2016www.facebook.com/EdwardsAirForceBase

Desert Wingswww.edwards.af.mil

Col. George Tromba, pictured with his wife Amy, took the reins of the 412th Mission Support Group during a change of command ceremony held at the Airman and Family Readiness Center July 8. Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander, presid-ed over the ceremony where Col. Eric Leshinsky relinquished command of the group after two years as commander. Leshinsky heads to a new assignment at Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee. As 412th MSG commander, Tromba will oversee mission support to more than 12,000 personnel assigned to the Air Force Test Center, 412th Test Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA's Neil Armstrong Flight Research Center and 37 associate units on a 308,000 acre base. The group's commander directs force protection, communications, civilian and military administration, supply transportation, fuels and deployment activi-ties as well as morale, welfare and recreation services. He is also the liaison to the local school district, Army & Air Force Exchange Service and the Defense Commissary Agency. He will lead a workforce of more than 1,300 people. Tromba comes to Edwards from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, where he served as deputy commander of the 614th Air Operations Center and also deputy commander of the U.S. Strategic Com-mand Joint Space Operations Center. He is a graduate of Texas State University where he was commissioned through the ROTC program.

The 2016 Olympics in Brazil is right around the corner beginning Aug. 5. But, before then, the 50th Annual USA Track and Field National Junior Olympics Championships will be held in Sacra-mento, California, July 25 – 31.

According to USATF, nearly 70,000 athletes compete each year in the Junior Olympic Track & Field and Cross Country programs and many of America's Olympians began there as youth athletes.

One of those young athletes who will compete this year is Branch Elementary’s Zack Gilbertson. Zack, 11, has qualified to compete in the 3000 meter run at the Junior Olympics.

Entry for this championship is based on athlete performances at preliminary, association, and regional levels of the 2016 USATF Junior Olym-pic Program. Competition takes place in two-year age divisions with athletes generally falling between seven and 18.

Zack is the son of Master Sgt. Benjamin Gilbertson, 412th Operations Group first sergeant.

“There are several meets you must compete in to qualify and move onto the Junior Olympics,” said Gilbertson. “His coach, being a member of USATF, has provided us with all the info and registrations for the meets. On June 11 he took first place with a time of 10:49 at the USATF Central California Championships. On July 2, Zack took first place with a time of 10:52 at the USATF Region 14 Championships. This was the final meet he needed to place at to move onto the Junior

Local student takes major stride, qualifies for Junior Olympics

Olympics.”His dad said Zack has won several 5K runs

here at Edwards including the Reindeer Run last December and the Chief’s Run recently. He will compete in the 11-12 year old category.

Zack’s coach is Senior Airman Benjamin Kinley of the 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. Kinley is a former college Division II cross country runner and is a certified USATF coach. He volunteers coaching cross country at Desert High School along with prepping Zack for the Junior Olympics.

“We were [at the base gym track] spring of last year and I saw Zack and his father running and it just kind of all fell together,” said Kinley. “I saw this kid running repeats really quickly and then I found out that he ran some pretty quick 5Ks so I got with his parents and we have been working together now about 10 months.”

The 3000 is a track event commonly known as the 3K or 3K run, where 7.5 laps are complet-ed around an outdoor 400 meter track. The USATF considers the event a mid-distance run; 3000 meters equals about 1.864 miles. The world record is 7 minutes and 20.67 seconds set by Daniel Komen of Kenya in 1996.

Zack’s big day is scheduled to be July 30. Results will be posted to the USATF website.

USATF is the national governing body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the U.S. The USATF is a volun-teer-driven, not-for-profit organization with a staff of professional program administrators at the national office in Indianapolis.

By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs

Zack Gilbertson, 11, trains at the base track July 7 in preparation for the 50th Annual USA Track and Field National Junior Olympics Championships in Sacramento, California, July 25 – 31. He will compete in the 3000 meter run July 30. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kenji Thuloweit)

US Air Force photo by Joseph Gocong

Mission support group commander introduced



The KC-46A Pegasus connected in flight with an F-16 Fighting Falcon July 8 and a C-17 Globe-master III July 12.

These tests with the F-16 and C-17 were in support of the Milestone C requirements to rendezvous, contact, and transfer fuel to several receiver aircraft types.

An initial attempt with the F-16 earlier this year was successful, however higher-than-expect-ed axial loads on the boom were detected. These loads were again present during the initial attempt with the C-17 and necessitated installation of hydraulic pressure relief valves in the boom.

This week's successful tests show the boom axial loads hardware fix, designed by Boeing engineers, is performing as expected to alleviate the loads.

The 412th Test Wing is the lead developmental test organization for the KC-46 Tanker Program.

"I'm encouraged by these results. The KC-46 program continues to move forward, making important progress that will get this vital capabili-

ty into the hands of the warfighter," said Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James.

The final Milestone C flight test is to transfer fuel through the fixed boom to an A-10 Thunder-bolt. That test is also slated to occur this month.

"Once complete with the A-10, we will request approval from Frank Kendall, undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics,

Stayin’ aliveRandolph Kelly, a mission system test expert with the U.S.

Air Force Test Pilot School, demonstrates securing himself to an extractor during water survival refresher training in the Oasis Pool here July 6. During the refresher, pilots were required to demonstrate several other water survival skills, including swimming from under a parachute and boarding various life rafts. (U.S. Air Force image by Karl Lewis)

F-16, C-17 support resumption of KC-46 qualificationto award production Lots 1 and 2, totaling 19 KC-46A aircraft," according to Darlene Costello, Air Force Service Acquisition executive.

"While it took some time, this week's results confirm my confidence the Boeing team will get this figured out. It's reassuring to see the program take this important step toward the production decision in August," said Gen. Dave Goldfein, chief of staff.

The KC-46A Pegasus is intended to replace the Air Force's aging tanker fleet, which has been refueling aircraft for more than 50 years. With more refueling capacity and enhanced capabilities, improved efficiency and increased capabilities for cargo and aeromedical evacua-tion, the KC-46A will provide aerial refueling support to the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, as well as allied nation coalition aircraft.

From Tanker, page 1

An Edwards F-16 Fighting Falcon approaches a KC-46 Pegasus during testing in Washington July 8. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chris Okula)

Innovation is the introduction of something new, an improved product or method. One innovation that’s not necessarily new but continues to demon-strate innovation is the RASCAL pod program at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School here.

Conceived in 2006, The Reconfigurable Airborne Sensor, Communica-tion and Laser - or RASCAL - pod provides a means of easily installing new instruments and technologies on board aircraft for flight testing.

According to Dan Carroll, program manager for the RASCAL pod, installing the test hardware in the pod, rather than into an aircraft, saves time and money.

“The pod has a tremendous impact on time,” Carroll said. “With current cutting edge technology, flight test equipment needs to be integrated, calibrated, and tested at the sub-system level. This can take weeks or months. We can’t always afford to take an aircraft off the line that long.”

With the RASCAL pod, the integration and calibration is done in the laboratory, then the pod is mounted on an aircraft for the flight tests. Since the aircraft no longer needs to be modified, it is available for other missions.

The pods are also useful for more short-notice projects. One example he cited was a project addition proposed by a customer, the Strategic Capabili-ties Office (SCO), with just five weeks’ notice before a scheduled flight test. “There is no way to accomplish the approval, design and installation on an Air Force aircraft in that time frame,” Carroll said. “With the pod, it was easily done.”

According to Carroll, DARPA, AFRL, defense contractors and other outside organizations request tests using the pods, or in many cases ask to

buy a RASCAL pod.In 2008 the pods’ size tended to limit the range of tests,

since the equipment has to fit in a relatively small space. But the advancement of technology and shrinking of components is increasing the number of projects that can be supported with the pod.

“As things get smaller, more projects are coming in,” Carroll said.The pods are also evolving, getting upgrades and modifications to

further increase their capabilities.One of the current projects the pod is facilitating is the exploration of

alternate navigation systems. Most electronic navigation systems rely on GPS. Should this, for any reason, become unavailable, then a backup system is always helpful. According to Carroll, this new method involves the aircraft looking at the stars overhead to help determine its position, much like sailors traditionally used a sextant, and simultane-ously looking at the ground like Google Earth.

The pods – there are currently three of them – are built from the chassis of SUU-20 rocket launchers that were either damaged or modi-fied and could not be returned to service in their original capacity. After intense engineering and mechanical metamorphosis, the RASCAL pod is created.

When the RASCAL pod was originally built, it was envisioned to fly on Edwards F-15s and T-38Bs also, but those aircraft have since left Edwards, leaving the F-16 as the sole Air Force platform for the RASCAL pod . It has flown on non-Air Force jets, but this is generally expensive and has schedule issues.

They are currently approved to fly up to Mach 1.2 on F-16s and will be cleared to fly on the T-38Cs, which get the centerline hard-point upgrade.

“This will increase our test capabilities and ease the pressure on the F-16 fleet here,” Carroll said.

Pod saves time, moneyFrom RASCAL, page 1



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Commander, 412th TW ................................Installation Support Director, 412th TW....................Command Chief, 412th TW ...........Director, 412th TW, Public Affairs ...................................Editors ............................................................Contributor .................................................................

Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer Dr. David Smith

Chief Master Sgt. Todd SimmonsEd Buclatin

Kenji Thuloweit, Christopher BallDawn Waldman

Editorial Staff

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This week in Edwards

Flight Test History On July 14, 1950 a North Ameri-can F-86 Sabre began the In-Flight Refueling Test with a Boeing KB-29F Superfortress tanker. The project’s objective was to demonstrate equipment suitability and operating tech-niques for in-flight refueling by a “flying boom” method. (Edwards History Office file photo)

Master Sgt. Jason Berry, deputy fire chief of opera-tions for the 412th Civil Engineer Group Fire Protection Branch, receives his retirement certificate from Col. Shawn Moore, commander of Detachment 6, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Wright-Patter-son Air Force Base, Ohio. Berry is the first military member to retire from Edwards Fire Department in nearly two decades. Berry’s task at Edwards Air Force Base was to reintegrate military firefighters into Edwards Fire & Emergency Services after a 14-year absence. Currently there are 15 military members and more scheduled to arrive. Moore was Berry’s commander when he taught at the Fire School at Goodfellow AFB, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Joseph Pol Gocong)

Reviving traditions

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is seeking highly qual-ified senior airmen, staff sergeant and technical sergeants for special agent investigative duties at Edwards and various other world-wide duty locations.

Interested applicants meeting minimum recruitment requirements listed at www.osi.af.mil should attend the next recruitment meeting, July 28, 10 a.m. at AFOSI Det 111, Bldg. 2810. For more information call the AFOSI recruiting manager at 277-6995.

AFOSI seeks recruits

Edwards AFB Desert Wings Newspaper July 15, 2016

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Transcript of Edwards AFB Desert Wings Newspaper July 15, 2016