RAH-66 COMANCHE HELICOPTER FLIGHT TEST SIMULATION STATION (FTSS)

The U.S. Army Aviation Technical Test Center (ATTC) is currently developing the Flight Test Simulation Station (FTSS) to contribute to airworthiness qualification flight testing of the RAH-66 Comanche helicopter. This development furthers initiatives under Simulation-Based Acquisition (SBA), Simulation, Test, and Evaluation Process (STEP), and Virtual Proving Ground (VPG). The current FTSS implements a GenHel-based blade element flight dynamics model and is integrated into Sikorsky’s Development Flight Center facility. FTSS will include a variable fidelity FLIGHTLAB-based Comanche model that will take advantage of utilities with the potential to improve model fidelity, a variable fidelity engine model, and a crew station which will facilitate test rehearsal and test plan optimization. FTSS also provides enhanced analysis tools, test visualization, limited software regression testing for engine and flight control system software drops, and a symbology development capability. A High Level Architecture (HLA) will allow the FTSS to support testing across a wider spectrum. ATTC is conducting a tailored Verification, Validation, and Accreditation (VV&A) process of all FTSS components. Comanche flight test data can be readily accessed and have been coupled with user-oriented interfaces to allow the model to be driven by flight test control position time histories. Additional interfaces facilitate the comparison of flight test and simulation-generated data, allowing a thorough validation to be conducted. The FTSS validation will then incorporate a comparison of performance, stability and control, and frequency domain measures. The validation will also examine the correlation of simulation output to aircraft component test data, focused on engine, rotor, and FANTAIL™ metrics.