By
Leesha Furse
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The
Wedgetail undergoes air-to-air refuelling manoeuvrability
tests.
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Photo
by Boeing
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CERTIFICATION
testing of the Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft
has reached more than halfway and in less than six months mission
system testing will begin.
OC AEW&C Systems Program Offi ce Group Captain Geoff Brown said
the fi rst test aircraft had done about 220 fl ying hours, which
was more than halfway through the FAA certifi cation fl ying required
to certify the Wedgetail as being a different type of 737.
The aircraft has been designed so that it handles much the same
as a normal Boeing 737-700. Most tests have been done out of Seattle
and some out of Edwards Air Force Base in California.
GPCAPT Brown said the tests had so far focused on aircraft handling,
performance testing as well as measuring the loads and vibrations
caused by the airframe modifi cations in different fl ight manoeuvres.
One of the latest tests was of the aircraft’s ability to manoeuvre
into place for air-to-air refuelling. Measurements were also taken
of how the aircraft handles so the data can be used for the operational
fl ight trainer.
“They’ve [the tests] revealed that the aircraft’s handling and
performance is pretty much as it was modelled, which is a good
result,” GPCAPT Brown said.
“There have not really been any surprises and any modifi cations
needed so far have been relatively minor.”
He said the majority of the certi- fi cation would be fi nished
by the end of the year, when some early radar testing would also
be carried out.
Then the fi rst aircraft will be taken offl ine and refi tted
with a full mission system. While the fi rst aircraft is refi
tted, the majority of the mission system testing will be carried
out on a second aircraft, which is nearing completion in Seattle.
The mission system testing will begin in March 2005. GPCAPT Brown
said these tests would take about 18 months.
The Air Force will receive the fi rst two of its six AEW&Cs in
November 2006.
The remaining aircraft, which will be modifi ed by Boeing at RAAF
Base Amberley, will be delivered between 2007 and 2008.
