Full Scale Aircraft Drop Testing

Vought Aircraft Industries Test Operations in Dallas, Texas has a unique test facility to simulate landings in an aircraft carrier environment. This facility permits simulation of aircraft landings with full-scale aircraft up to 80,000 pounds at any desired attitude, at sink speeds up to 30 fps and landing speeds up to 160 knots. Under these conditions, the gear can be also made to run over deck obstructions or other types of bumps at any specific point in the gear stroke, thus satisfying the test requirements of MIL-A-8867C, Paragraphs 3.5.1, 3.5.2 and 3.5.3. A variety of surfaces can be fitted to the moving plate to simulate various frictional coefficients or non-prepared field conditions. The facility can also be used for tower drops of single gears with or without the moving shuttle plate.

The moving shuttle plate is 5 feet wide and 48 feet long and is fitted to the guide rails with slipper fittings. A pneumatic propulsion system consisting two pistons and accumulators with valves is used to propel the plate down the guide rails. A mechanical hold back and quick-release assembly is used to hold the plate in place when the propulsion system is charged and to quick-release the plate when actuated. The facility includes a set of drop platforms positioned under the landing gear for reaction and measurement of the landing gear vertical and lateral loads during each drop test. The facility also includes an overhead hoist/drop structure to facilitate lifting and drop of the aircraft or landing gear onto the shuttle plate/drop platforms. This structure is fitted with traveling hoist, wing lift simulation system, test article quick release hook, and guy wire provisions to control test article position during and after the drop test event.

A primary brake assembly is utilized to stop the moving shuttle plate after each drop test which simulates forward velocity conditions. This brake assembly is based on a caliper brake design and is capable of absorbing 150 percent of the energy generated by the propulsion system. A heavy steel barrier is located at the end of the track as a backup for the primary brake system. This barrier consists of a collapsible balsa wood-in-tube energy absorber and can absorb an additional 50 percent of the energy generated by the pneumatic propulsion system. The 120 by 300 foot operational area is fenced and secured with alarms during test operations to assure personnel safety.

Drop test control and data acquisition is accomplished from a test control area located adjacent to the facility. Completely automated test control is provided utilizing a high speed data acquisition computer system. This system, utilizing menu driven software and through various command devices and receiving sensors, controls the entire drop test sequence. This system is coupled to the control computer and automatically triggered to acquire time history digital data during each drop event. A broad array of software routines for near-real-time and post-test data processing and plotting are also available.

View the history of our Drop Testing services

For more information please contact:

John Vaught
e-mail: john_vaught@voughtaircraft.com