News - Page 675

Dec. 12, 2006
AFRL Aids Memphis Belle Restoration Effort

In October 2005, the Memphis Belle, a Boeing B-17 that flew 25 missions during World War II and took part in the war bond tours, transferred from the Memphis Belle Memorial Association to the National Museum of the United States Air Force (NMUSAF). In 1946, the aircraft flew to Memphis, where it
Dec. 12, 2006
AFRL and AFIT Develop Tanker Fleet Replacement Model

With 90% of Air Force (AF) tankers approaching 50 years of service, the replacement or recapitalization of the fleet is an AF priority. Accordingly, AFRL and the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) developed an objective model to provide insight into the costs and benefits of various existing
Dec. 12, 2006
Aerial Multiaxis Platform Enhances Air Force Depaint and Maintenance Operations

AFRL partnered with US Technology Corporation (Canton, Ohio) to develop and implement a low-cost and highly effective aerial-based, semiautomated system for performing maintenance, repair, and overhaul work. This revolutionary system, the Aerial Multiaxis Platform (AMP), successfully integrates
Dec. 12, 2006
AFRL Conducts Successful Tests of Mechanically Attached Blanket

AFRL engineers completed testing of three mechanically attached blankets designed to improve current thermal protection systems (TPS) for reusable space access vehicles. These flexible, insulating blankets are easier to attach and remove than the current adhesive tile TPS used on the space shuttle
Dec. 12, 2006
AFRL Researchers Demonstrate Fuel Cell Powered With JP-8

AFRL researchers demonstrated a planar solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) running on logistic fuel (JP-8) to the US Army Corps of Engineers. The device that made this demonstration possible is the logistic fuel processor (LFP), developed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. The LFP, which uses steam
Dec. 12, 2006
AFRL Alternatives Planning Technology Aids Decision Makers

Department of Defense (DoD) professionals frequently confront daunting amounts of data that, considered collectively, contribute to an informed decision but, viewed individually, mean nothing or add no value. Many times, this data represents inexplicit averages, approximations, and expert opinion.
Dec. 12, 2006
CAI TechnologIes Mitigate RIsks of CertIfyIng Bonded Structures

Thanks to the AFRL-sponsored Composites Affordability Initiative (CAI), the Department of Defense (DoD) supplier base now has access to a suite of tools and technologies enabling confident certification of bonded composite structures for primary load-bearing applications. The use of these resources
Dec. 12, 2006
AFRL program demonstrates synthetic and enhanced vision for low-level flight

Administration's Langley Research Center (Virginia), and Rockwell Collins (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) collaborated under a Dual-Use Science and Technology program to conduct the first-ever industry demonstration of synthetic and enhanced vision technologies in low-level terrain-following and curved,
Dec. 12, 2006
Global Hawk Low-Pressure Turbine-Driven Generator Completes Simulated Altitude Testing

An AFRL team completed demonstration tests simulating altitude operation of a low-pressure (LP) turbine-driven, 270 VDC, 75 kW generator mounted onto an AE3007H engine. The tests accomplished AFRL's goals to develop Global Hawk power upgrades that increase the available payload power over the
Dec. 11, 2006
AFRL INTERFACE DESIGN GUIDE INCREASES OPERATOR PERFORMANCE FOR THE AIR BATTLE MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY

AFRL research scientists developed and delivered a battle management command and control (BMC2) Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Design Guide to Air Combat Command. The HMI Design Guide promotes a common look and feel among operator interfaces without making any one platform too specific. The guide