JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ -- A test team from Air Mobility Command Test and Evaluation Squadron (AMCTES) located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey travelled to Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts from April 8 through 12, 2019 to execute the C-5M Heavyweight Minimum Radius 180-Degree Turn Tactics Development and Evaluation (TD&E).
Stated simply, the purpose of the test was to determine the minimum turning radius of a 180-degree turn of a Lockheed Martin C-5M Super Galaxy Aircraft, the largest aircraft in the U.S. Air Force fleet, when carrying loads in excess of 732,500 lbs. Air Mobility Command Directorate of Operations, Aircrew Standardization, and Evaluation (A3V) requested the test. According to Technical Orders, current tactics, techniques and procedures, and training guidance, multiple procedures exist for aircrew to accomplish a 180-degree turn on a runway with the standard distance ranging between 198 ft. and 218 ft. The minimum runway width for a C-5 is 150 ft. regardless of weight, which places C-5M crews at risk of having to operate at an airfield where a 180-degree turn may not be possible. Determining an accurate pavement width requirement for the minimum turn radius maneuver performed at heavyweights would arm planners and crews with vital information to support C-5M airfield compatibility decisions. This AMCTES evaluation is executing to characterize the minimum radius turn requirements of the C-5M.
In a controlled test execution, the test team from AMCTES set up a test site at Westover Air Reserve Base, using ground markers, and GoPro™ video technology to capture real-time video images of C-5M aircraft as aircrews from the 436th Airlift Wing, Dover Air Force Base, DE, performed a series of 180-degree turns, or figure-8 patterns, on the marked airfield. The 439th Air Reserve Wing at Westover Air Reserve Base, MA provided ground support including runway logistics, maintenance, and fire department backup.
“This was a large scale test with a lot of moving parts. The support and flexibility from Westover and the Dover aircrew made this test run seamlessly,” said lead AMCTES Test Director Technical Sergeant Chris Olmsted.
Testing continued for two days with variations in gross aircraft load weight, nose landing gear angle deflections, symmetric vs. asymmetric thrust and braking, and runway surface conditions.
The AMCTES test team led by Technical Sergeant Olmsted also included Captain Stephen Borodin, Technical Sergeant Lawrence Scott, Technical Sergeant John Newby, and Video Information (VI) Specialist Lisa Elmo-Henske, under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel William “Beau” Jones.
Five camera angles recorded footage of 30 test turns. Cameras attached to the nose landing gear doors on both sides of the aircraft recorded the outboard tire movement; at both of the aft main landing gear doors recorded aft outboard tire movements; and on the flight deck recorded ground speed, engine indications, and nose wheel steering angles.
VI Specialist Elmo-Henske stated that her main intent was to be able to integrate all of the footage from all five cameras to capture images from every angle. The test team paid careful attention to synchronizing each physical start and stop point together with the exact data points on the video recordings in order to capture the precise turn radiuses for each of 30 test runs.
AMC Test and Evaluation Squadron is the sole operational test organization of AMC, and represents over 29 Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC). AMCTES Test Directors are selected and specifically trained to carry out AMC operational testing missions worldwide. AMCTES provides operationally representative testing of systems, programs, and tactics that directly impact the warfighter. AMCTES tests real-life operational-use scenarios by essentially “piggy-backing” on actual missions whenever possible. This differs from standard developmental testing that occurs prior to fielding. The objective recording and reporting of test findings allows AMCTES to focus on providing recommendations that maximize aircrew safety and tactics efficiencies.
The AMCTES test team will provide a final report to AMC’s A3V Directorate to characterize the turn radius results providing feedback on findings and making possible recommendations to improve tactics and procedures to benefit the entire C-5M community. Findings obtained through tests such as this may provide aircrews with a single optimized procedure enabling them to utilize their C-5M Galaxy to the maximum extent of its capabilities.