Advanced Attack Helicopter Fatigue Testing: Overview

Advanced Attack Helicopter (AAH) testing at Hughes is primarily concerned with the structural substantiation of all the critical components of the YAH-64 Helicopter. In accordance with the Airworthiness Qualification Specification six specimens are required to substantiate a fatigue life of 4500 hours. Constant load amplitude, S-N type testing is used for all component tests with the exception of the gun support structure, where spectrum loading type testing is specified.