S-3B Airtanker Design Study
and Fleet Analysis
Presented to the Associated Aerial
Firefighters Conference
18 January 2011
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Boeing Company
Aircraft Systems
Introductions
• Paul Wynns, Aircraft Systems Program
Manager at Argon ST
• Argon ST Active and Aircraft Systems Group,
a subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 2
Aircraft Systems
Objectives
• Familiarize airtanker community with the latest, most accurate
engineering data on the S-3B aircraft
• Summarize Argon ST’s S-3B Airtanker Design
• Compare S-3B Airtanker performance with current airtanker fleet
• Describe available S-3B support organizations & services
• Gather feedback to refine Argon ST’s ongoing engineering &
research activities in support of fire aviation
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 3
Aircraft Systems
S-3 Viking - Overview
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 4
Aircraft Systems
Length:
Wingspan:
Height:
Crew:
Basic Weight:
Max TOGW:
Max Speed:
Maneuvering Limits:
Ceiling:
Internal Fuel:
External Fuel:
Loiter Speed, 20,000 ft.:
Approach Speed:
Ferry Range:
Endurance:
General Arrangement
53 ft. 4 in.
68 ft. In.
22 ft. 9 in.
1-4
29,000 lb. (typical)
52,500 lb.
450 KTS (0.79M)
+3.5g / -2.0g
40,000 ft.
13,144 lb.
(1,933 USG)
3,604 lb.
(530 USG)
210 KTS
110 KTS
3000+ nm
6+ hr.
Inflight refueling capable
Design Margins (Before airframe mod):
Unused Weight:
18,500 lbs.
Unused Volume:
180 cu. ft.
Airframe life remaining: 11,000 hrs. (avg.)
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 5
Aircraft Systems
S-3B Airtanker Design Summary
•
US Government presented with a 250+ page
design document describing performance, IATB
compliance, and fleet cost analysis
•
Over 45 Navy publications and 120 OEM drawings
analyzed
•
Most extensive S-3B airtanker engineering
completed to date
•
Sponsored by Air Force Research Labs, NASA: All
data available at zero cost to USFS
2000+ gal. mixed retardant payload, 450 KIAS max speed, 125-135
KIAS drop speed, fully IATB compliant, coverage levels 0.5 to 8
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 6
Aircraft Systems
Suitability
• Takeoff & Landing performance is suitable for
most USFS firebases
– Engine modifications & thrust reversers are not required
– Upgrade to latest TF-34 engine variants would increase
speed, payload, fuel efficiency
• Engines & Airframe are proven in the fire
aviation environment
– Tens of thousands of flight hours in blowing sand, smoke,
high temp.
– Operating from forward-deployed desert airfields in hot
climates
• Analysis & US Navy Flight Test Data Predict
Full IATB Compliance
–
S-3B airtanker will have lower drag count than existing US
Navy flight test data
Navy S-3B deployment to Al Asad, Iraq
’08 (VS-22) - 100% mission availability in
desert environment
S-3B Airtanker IATB Compliance
S-3B
IATB
90F, Sea Level
Airtanker Requirement
T/O Run
4,050'
6,000'
Balanced Field Length
6,600'
7,000'
SE Climb Rate
120 fpm
100 fpm
Enroute Climb Rate
2250 fpm
100 fpm
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 7
Aircraft Systems
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Flying Qualities
Enroute
– Cruise altitudes > 10k’ as desired
– 450 KIAS dash speed if needed
FTA arrival and check-in
– Excellent cockpit visibility
– Loiter flap setting for orbiting
Cruise altitudes allow high airspeeds, fuel efficiency
Approach and descent
– Upper/lower wing spoilers
Spoilers allow rapid decel, controlled rates of descent
– Up to 10,000 fpm controlled descent
rate available, wings-level
Final approach
– 2g, 45 deg. AOB available
– DLC (spoilers) allow power-on descent
– 135 KIAS drop speed
– 105 KIAS stall speed
Exit
– DLC automatically retracts spoilers
– Full power immediately available
– 3.5g available
Flight controls designed for
Cockpit visibility enhances SA in FTA
Thrust, G available enhance exit safety
stable low altitude
maneuvering
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 8
Aircraft Systems
•
Advantages of the S-3B Airtanker:
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Conclusions & Discussion
Zero airframe, spares, GSE procurement cost
Leverages nearly $2.0M of existing engineering work
Access to $1.2B in airframes, spares, engines, and equipment
Highly capable, cost-effective airframe with over 15 yrs. life remaining
Airframes available now as a “gap fill” in advance of C-130J platforms
Speed and flexibility complements VLAT and LAT platforms
Support of AFRL Air Vehicles Integration Directorate and NASA Glenn Research Center; full
cooperation of NAVAIR
Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company: A
leading engineering and modification provider backed by the world’s
leading aerospace company.
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 9
Aircraft Systems
Paul Wynns
Aircraft Systems
Program Manager
6696 Mesa Ridge Road
San Diego, CA 92121-2950
Office: (858) 623-9424 x411
Mobile: (619) 994-7606
Fax:
(866) 529-3133
Contact Information
About Argon ST
Argon ST is a leading developer of command, control, communications,
computers, combat, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance
(C5ISR) systems that support operational commanders by producing
and delivering information in time to impact critical decisions. Argon
ST’s C5ISR solutions are currently at work on land, at sea, and in the
sky. We support a full range of military and strategic units, including
surface, sub-surface, airborne, and land-based platforms that serve
defense, homeland security, and international customer needs. In
today’s fast-paced and highly complex threat environments, Argon ST
is driven by an overarching goal to help the warfighter make sense of
the technology and threats facing our forces—and provide the
capability to beat them.
Paul.Wynns@ArgonST.com
About Aircraft Systems
Argon ST - Aircraft Systems (Ventura, California) was created to
address unique airborne special missions. Aircraft Systems provides
innovative and cost effective aircraft installation, operational, and
support solutions to U.S. and foreign governments engaged in airborne
missions which require advanced detection, analysis, identification,
targeting, tracking, response, and networked connectivity capabilities
aboard various types of multi-mission aircraft. Our design and
engineering capabilities span the range of applied and theoretical
disciplines associated with aerospace structures, mechanical systems,
electrical systems, motion control, RF engineering, systems integration,
and FAA/DoD airworthiness certification compliance. Our facilities and
prototype manufacturing capabilities also include structures,
mechanical, and electrical fabrication, assembly, test, evaluation and
airworthiness compliance certification.
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 10
Backup Slides
Aircraft Systems
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 11
Supportability
Aircraft Systems
• Maintenance
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Most recent S-3B Iraq deployment
• 4 forward-deployed aircraft
• 3 flights a day, 6 months
• 100% mission completion; no
sorties lost to maintenance aborts
• Continues the trend of 27%+ cost
savings vs. the P-3 airframe
• Lowest cost carrier-based aircraft
–
Over 80% average mission availability
in Afghanistan, Iraq wars
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TF-34 engines shared by USAF A-10s,
commercial RJs
–
Over $1.2B in Navy spare parts,
airframes, equipment – zero cost to
USFS
• Navy and NASA will continue
to operate S-3B aircraft
through 2015
• Engineering centers, depot, simulator
facilities
• All Navy, NASA S-3B facilities and
services available to USFS or USFS
contractors
Cleveland, OH: NASA Glenn Research Center
Point Mugu, CA: Naval Air Warfare Center
Patuxent River, MD:
S-3B Program
Manager
Jacksonville, FL: Naval Air Depot
–
AMARC re-activation costs for S-3B
are 50% those of P-3A/C
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 12
Aircraft Systems
Structural Service Life
•
Full Scale Fatigue Test (FSFT) analysis
completed in 2004 by OEM and Navy
engineering teams
•
Tested two full scale models to failure against
a tactical aircraft flight profile:
– Did not use transport aircraft load spectra
(e.g. P-3, C-130, B747, DC-10)
– Tactical, low-altitude profile used instead
•
Results
– Exceeded previous life estimates by 100%
– 23,000 hr. service life certification; average
airframe age is 12,000 hrs.
– No re-winging required, 15-20 yrs. airtanker
life remaining
– “It would be conservative to use these hours
to determine inspections or life limits on
individual aircraft” – OEM FSFT Failure
Analysis Report
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 13
Safety Record
Aircraft Systems
•
1.7 million flight hours, 21 years operational service
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S-3B’s Class A mishap rate is lower than the P-3C’s in USN
service
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1 Class A involving engine failure – caused by human factors
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1 Class A involving vertical fin failure – caused by human
factors
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2 Class A due to inflight fire – caused by maintenance
malpractice
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3 Class A due to analog autopilot system malfunction
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4 Class A due to CV environment
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19 Class A due to CFIT or other human factors
•
Source: PMA-290C NAVAIR, NAS Patuxent River, MD
Shore-based operational mishap rate: 1.06 per 100,000 flt. hrs.
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•
S-3B Class A Mishap Causal Factors
All Years
Excluding carrier operations
System failure mishap rate: 0.118 per 100,000 flt. hrs.
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Excludes CFIT and human factors
Excludes causal factors from legacy systems now upgraded/replaced
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 14
Aircraft Systems
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Safety and Reliability Design
Features
Dual redundant hydraulic flight control systems
Independent emergency hydraulic pump
Independent emergency flight control system (EFCS)
Triple redundant electrical power systems
Dual redundant electrical pitch trim systems, each with
automatic fault detection
Dual redundant, 4-axis digital autopilot system
Excellent single-engine flight characteristics, including waveoff / go-around
Automatic elevator bias to relieve stick loads during flap
transitions
Automatic thrust/pitch compensation to minimize pitch
changes with power
Direct lift control for precise glideslope management
Dual redundant channel, digital yaw damper – including
single-engine modes
Dual flight deck controls, dual instrument panels, cockpit
optimized for pilot/copilot CRM
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 15
Basing
Aircraft Systems
•
Existing USFS bases recommended as candidates for S-3B airtanker:
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Lancaster, CA (WJF: General Wm J Fox Airfield)
Fresno, CA (FAT: Fresno Yosemite)
Klamath Falls, OR (LMT: Kingsley Field)
Moses Lake, WA (MWH: Grant County Airport)
Missoula, MT (MSO: Missoula International)
Boise, ID (BOI: Boise Air Terminal)
Knoxville, TN (TYS: McGhee Tyson Field)
Lake City, FL (LCQ: Lake City Municipal)
Albuquerque, NM (ABQ: Albuquerque International)
Ft. Huachuca, AZ (FHU: Sierra Vista Municipal)
Williams, AZ (CMR: H.A. Clark Memorial Field)
McClellan, CA (MCC: Sacramento McClellan Air Park)*
Colorado Springs, CO (COS: Colorado Springs Airport)*
* Airtanker capable with Portable Mixing Plant support
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15 minute and 30 minute response time ranges plotted for each candidate base
Other existing USFS bases plotted for reference
Highlights how the S-3B airtanker’s speed allows a flexible choice of basing while still
maintaining superior response times
•
Map available for viewing online at:
http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107356115496716605077.0004630ddb8184bd55389
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 16
S-3B Airtanker Basing
Aircraft Systems
Kalispell, MT (GPI)
Coeur d’Alene, ID (COE)
Legend:
Missoula, MT (MSO)
Moses Lake, WA (MWH)
Helena, MT (HLN)
Troutdale, OR (TTD)
Outer ring (yellow):
30 min. response
Candidate S-3B
airtanker base
Grangeville, ID (S80)
La Grande, OR (LGD)
Mission profile:
McCall, ID (MYL)
Redmond, OR (RDM)
Inner ring (orange):
15 min. response
-Response times are takeoff
to FTA arrival, one-way trip
West Yellowstone, MT (WYS)
Boise, ID (BOI)
Medford, OR (MFR)
-All cruise altitudes >10k’
-Climb, cruise, and descent
airpseeds, altitudes in
accordance with FAA
procedures, S-3B flight
manual
Klamath Falls, OR (LMT)
Redding, CA (RDD)
Chester, CA (O05)
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 17
Aircraft Systems
Medford, OR (MFR)
S-3B Airtanker Basing: South
Klamath Falls, OR (LMT)
Legend:
Redding, CA (RDD)
Chester, CA (O05)
Jeffco, CO (BJC)
Inner ring (orange):
15 min. response
Outer ring (yellow):
30 min. response
Grass Valley (09CL)
Minden, NV (MEV)
Colorado Springs, CO (COS)
McClellan, CA (MCC)
Candidate S-3B
airtanker base
Stockton, CA (SCK)
Bishop, CA (BIH)
Mission profile:
Durango, CO (DRO)
Fresno, CA (FAT)
Porterville, CA (PTV)
West Yellowstone, MT (WYS)
Williams, AZ (CMR)
Lancaster, CA (WJF)
Santa Barbara, CA (SBA)
Winslow, AZ (INW)
Prescott, AZ (PRC)
Albuquerque, NM (ABQ)
Hemet, CA (HMT)
Ramona, CA (RMN)
-Response times are
takeoff to FTA arrival,
one-way trip
-All cruise altitudes
>10k’
-Climb, cruise, and
descent airpseeds,
altitudes in accordance
with FAA procedures, S3B flight manual
Silver City, NM (SVC)
Alamogordo, NM (ALM)
Ft. Huachuca, AZ (FHU)
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 18
Aircraft Systems
S-3B Airtanker Basing: East
Legend:
London, KY (LOZ)
Knoxville, TN (TYS)
Inner ring (orange):
15 min. response
Outer ring (yellow):
30 min. response
Candidate S-3B
airtanker base
Asheville, NC (AVL)
Mission profile:
-Response times are takeoff
to FTA arrival, one-way trip
-All cruise altitudes >10k’
-Climb, cruise, and descent
airpseeds, altitudes in
accordance with FAA
procedures, S-3B flight
manual
Tallahassee, FL (TLH)
Lake City, FL (LCQ)
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 19
Aircraft Systems
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Summary of Airtanker Engineering
Analysis
$1.0m in engineering analysis with Navy,
NASA, and AFRL support
Surpasses and revises previous S-3B
feasibility studies
Basic airframe has over 15-20 yrs. of life
remaining; no re-winging required
Minimum payload is 1800 gal.
Maximum payload can exceed 2000 gal.
S-3B speed allows flexible basing
Thrust reversers and engine modifications
are not required
S-3B’s turbofan engines are dependable
and proven in smoke & dust prone
environments
Three general airtanker mod options with 16
individual configurations are possible
0
1
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168
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-59.904
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58.863
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170
548.844
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172
548.844
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0.006
173
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0.013
174
548.844
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591.063
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X c  C
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Yc  C
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C c  ( 1000 C )
 2
 X c  Yc  C c 
Copyright 2009-11, Argon ST, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company
Slide 20