Defense Daily - B-2 surpasses 1,000-hour mark in 217 flight tests

The six B-2 bombers participating in the Air Force’s flight test program surpassed 1,000 hours in 217 flights last week, with a six hour flight of Air Vehicle-2 on Feb. 10.

Flight tests have extended the Northrop-built B-2 to its full flight envelope, with altitudes and speeds up to 100 percent of those expected under operational conditions, the Air Force said Friday. The B-2 now has been tested over the full operational speed range from lowest to highest Mach speeds, and from sea-level to the service ceiling, it added.

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The test flight program is on schedule, the sen, ace said, noting that the first operational B-2 is scheduled for delivery to Whiteman AFB, Mo., late this year. Upcoming flight tests include: cruise performance tests, wet runway, in-flight rain and ice, climatic, air-to-air imaging tests and armament testing.

To date, aircraft flutter tests have been completed and the B-2 has been deemed flutterfree for its entire operational envelope. In addition, there have been no fuel tank leaks during any portion of the testing program, the service added.

Under the current flight test regime, AV-1 is used for envelope expansion, radar cross section, night flight and night refueling tests; AV-2 for flutter, loads, propulsion, performance, weapons bay and envelope expansion tests; AV-3 for radar, navigation, avionics, environmental control systems, air data and low observable (LO) tests; AV-4 for weapons, radar, navigation, avionics and terrain following tests; AV-5 for climatic, LO and weapons tests; and AV-6 for technical order validation, weapons carriage and separation and avionics tests.

B-2s have released B61 and B83 nuclear and MK-84 conventional bomb shapes from a rotary launcher. Initial weapons separation tests indicate the aircraft design and aerodynamic airflow are suitable for both nuclear and conventional bombing missions, it said. More testing will be conducted to verify the operational suitability throughout the B-2 flight regime.

The B-2 also has completed over 50 percent of weapons bay door testing for destructive acoustic vibrations when doors are opened at high speed. Flight tests also are demonstrating superb integration of critical navigation and radar systems, the Air Force said.

“This is in part due to a substantial development program, which began in 1987, when navigation and radar tests of the B-2 systems were performed on board a modified C-135 aircraft,” it said. “These early development efforts have paved the way toward a well integrated a well integrated avionics system.”

Other flight test accomplishments include continuing night refueling and landing tests. Low observable testing also is continuing, the service said, noting that the B-2 is meeting and exceeding desired LO requirements. The Air Force announced last month it had found a fix for the B-2’s LO problem that would cost about $330 million dollars (Defense Daily, Jan. 15, Jan. 25).

In addition, two test articles–a durability and a static test article–demonstrated the strength and durability of the bomber. A durability test article completed its second “lifetime of fatigue” testing, which simulated 20,000 hours of flying, or about 30 years of operational use.

A static test article completed testing that certified the airframe will safely take 150 percent of the operational load and in-flight stress that the aircraft will ever endure in operational service (Defense Daily, Dec. 18). Then the test article was intentionally taken up to the breaking point of 161 percent as a test of ultimate strength, the service said.

Logistics and maintenance testing is proceeding well with over 4,550 logistics test hours accomplished, it said. These tests are verifying technical orders and maintenance procedures, bringing the total number of verified maintenance technical orders to 241, or 60 percent.