Some Pics from N.A.S.A. Flight Test....

[Loach Driver]

O.K., this topic will probably never rival the Army Test topic for content but if anyone can post photos of NASA helicopters, please do. I don't have any photos but here is a link to an interesting site.

http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://...%26tbs%3Disch:1

LD.

[thatguy96]

Thanks for the link. Lots of interesting stuff there. For those interested, the full link to the table of contents for the document, Flight Research at Ames, 1940-1997, is here.

[EDWMatt]

Okay, here's a couple to start you off.

Sikorsky S-72 Rotor Systems Research Aircraft (RSRA). Two of these airframes were built, based on S-61 dynamics. These aircraft were designed to be easily re-configurable with different rotor systems, stub wings and booster engines for compound studies, etc. Had Stencil Yankee extractor-type ejection seats. One of the more comical vids I've seen is the testing of the seats on the sled track at Holloman. Oddly, the RSRA's didn't actually do much rotor system research, although one was used for the infamous X-Wing program (more of which later...)

JUH-60A NASA 748. This was an old Army flight test '60 from Edwards that was transferred to NASA when it was replaced by a later build. Here it is undergoing an airspeed calibration with the Edwards JT-34C airspeed pacer (Bu. No. 160959) as part of the "Rotor Limits" test project. This was an ambitious project to fully characterize the flow field around a helicopter rotor and measured over 1000 parameters. This was one of the first uses of wireless parameter recording to transfer data parameters from the rotor to the instrumentation system in the fuselage. BTW, that's me in the back of the T-34

I actually took this pic at Bell Flight Test in Arlington, but it's a NASA airframe. XV-15A #1 (NASA 702). This aircraft spent much of its time bailed to Bell, but it flew at Ames and Dryden, also.

[EDWMatt]

Couple more...

Forgot I still had this one in my photo account. Loach Driver already knows this one. NASA OH-6A (NASA 731). This was used primarily as a proficiency ship at Ames. Sadly, it was lost when it struck high tension wires across Highway 580 while "scud running" along the highway on the way to Sacramento. This picture was taken less than a month prior to the accident. This is a really pretty ship. Intend to build the DML Loach in this scheme someday

Not a NASA helicopter, but a NASA flight test. This is a test of the landing radar system for the Phoenix Mars Lander at Dryden. The radar was a modified F-16 radalt, and was contained in the bomb-like vehicle under the Huey. It was connected by one mile of Technora line to a computer-controlled hydraulic winch in the Huey cabin. By varying the drag on the winch, the test team could exactly duplicate the descent profile of the lander. The radar test vehicle was actually dropped up to a mile below the Huey, then winched back up. This allowed 5 or 6 runs per flight. Huey is River City Helicopters' Super 205A-1++ N205SF.

Here's another shot of 205SF:

This is a really sharp Huey. It does a lot of TV and movie work (for example, it's the black Huey in "Mission Impossible 2" and has masqueraded as a Navy Huey in "The Unit")

[Loach Driver]

Matt, thanks for the great start to this topic. As always, lots of interesting stuff.

LD.

[C-130CrewChief]

Here are some pics of a Cobra that they (NASA) were using for spares. It is now being restored by the Moffett Field Museum staff along with several other aircraft. I can get pics of one of the RSRA. It's in sad shape in hangar 2.

Curt

[rotorwash]

I was wondering where I'd ever post these pics. Here are two UH-1H carcasses that were turned into US Helicopter when NASA ordered two Huey II's. I bet I can find some more NASA stuff if I try, but it's a start.

Ray

[EDWMatt]

I was wondering where I'd ever post these pics. Here are two UH-1H carcasses that were turned into US Helicopter when NASA ordered two Huey II's. I bet I can find some more NASA stuff if I try, but it's a start.

Ray

Ray,

Those look like a couple of the old launch site security birds from KSC. As you said, they were replaced by Huey II's that were bought a part of the State Department order.

Langley used to operate both B and H model Hueys in support of test programs, but they're long gone. The only helo's still in operation in a test capacity with NASA are the two UH-60s, the NAH-1S and the OH-58 at Ames, in conjunction with AFDD (although the airframes are still owned by the Army)

[HeavyArty]

Some of the above helos in action.

NASA CH-47A

NASA AH-1G taking part in Tip Aero & Acoustics in flight tests.

Not a helicopter, but helicopter related. NASA Large Rotorcraft Test Apparatus.

I had to put a track in here too, but it is helo related. So here is an M577A3 NASA Emergency Hazardous Materials Response Vehicle. If you look closely, it does have a remote controlled helo on the top deck though.

Edited July 16, 2010 by HeavyArty

[rotorwash]

Gino,

Nice pics. The two of the Huey in flight are both Huey II's. I assume those are the replacements for the ones I posted.

Ray

[EDWMatt]

Great shots, Gino.

NASA 737 was a CH-47B, not an A. It had a vari-stab flight control system, with an analog flight control computer. Went back to the Army in the early '90's to be converted to a CH-47D. The vari-stab function is now fulfilled by UH-60 NASA 750, the RASCAL

Since you posted the "White Cobra" Tip Aero & acoustics, here's the platform Ames used to measure helicopter acoustics in flight:

Lockheed YO-3A. Since it was nearly silent when all the mufflers and such were installed, it was the perfect platform for recording acoustics. Interestingly, it was built just across the runway from Ames by Lockheed Missiles and Space. The YO-3 is currently residing at Dryden, but is inactive (and may soon be for sale).

BTW, the little Cobra pic just below the AH-1G is the NAH-1S Surrogate Trainer. Used mostly for pilot aided vision experiments

[Loach Driver]

Matt, thanks for the photo of the YO-3A. It's definitely a plane with an interesting history. I read somewhere that one is being restored to flight status and will be in its original Viet Nam spec. Even the F.B.I. used them for a while. It's a pity to see that NASA are getting rid of their's. Thanks.

LD.

[rotorwash]

As usual Matt delivers with extra info and pics. Here's a better shot of the NAH-1S from Wayne Mutza's collection. I know I've posted it somewhere around here before as well.

Ray

Here's one of the NASA Huey II's before it left US Helicopter courtesy of Mac McMillan:

Edited July 20, 2010 by rotorwash

[Retired GunPilot]

Ray, those pictures you are claiming are Huey IIs. Is the Huey II an FAA certified aircraft? I noticed they have N tail numbers which would mean they are certified. I thought the Huey II was just a military or part 91 mod. Are you sure those are not just refurbished civilian 205s? I also noted they have the cargo door in the tailboom same as the civilian 205s.

Charlie

[g0_command0]

Is the NASA AH-1S still at AMES? I dont remember ever seeing it within the last 5 years for sure

[rotorwash]

Ray, those pictures you are claiming are Huey IIs. Is the Huey II an FAA certified aircraft? I noticed they have N tail numbers which would mean they are certified. I thought the Huey II was just a military or part 91 mod. Are you sure those are not just refurbished civilian 205s? I also noted they have the cargo door in the tailboom same as the civilian 205s.

Charlie

Charlie,

Yep, I think they are definitely Huey II's. Right handed TR, 212 blades, 212 tail boom with cargo door and if you look close you'll see the position lights on either side of the tail. Of course some of those mods are found on civilian 205's but I have never seen a 205 with the 212 blades. There is also this NASA site which refers to them as Huey II's (actually a dang good place to find NASA birds in general). Not to mention I spoke with the guys who built em. I do confess that I really got no idea about the FAA stuff though. Maybe they should be considered 210's as I know those are FAA certified. I'm just not sure what the little differences are between the two other than their intended market.

Ray

Here are a couple more really cool NASA links:

Ames Rotorcraft Research through 1997 with Pics

Check the small article at the bottom of this document for info and pics of the safety stripes painted on Hueys in 2000

1994 pic of Langley Research Center:

[Tailspin Turtle]

Ray, those pictures you are claiming are Huey IIs. Is the Huey II an FAA certified aircraft? I noticed they have N tail numbers which would mean they are certified. I thought the Huey II was just a military or part 91 mod. Are you sure those are not just refurbished civilian 205s? I also noted they have the cargo door in the tailboom same as the civilian 205s.

Charlie

The XV-15s had N numbers...

[EDWMatt]

The XV-15s had N numbers...

Perhaps I can shed a bit of light (since my current job is as a NASA aircraft manager!). NASA aircraft that are not used to carry passengers are certified as "public use" aircraft. NASA has a self-certification capability, that is, we have processes for determining airworthiness and the authority to issue airworthiness certificates. There is a NASA regulation that all NASA-owned aircraft will carry US registration. We simply apply for an N-number with the FAA as government-owned, public-use aircraft. That's why you see N-numbers on all sorts of non type-certificated aircraft, like F-18's and the MQ-9 (and the XV-15'...). The "mission management" aircraft that carry passengers (mainly the B-200's and Gulfstreams) do operate under FAA Part 35 certification, however.

As to the Huey II's certification status, all Huey II is is a series of STC packages that can be applied to any Huey airframe (H-model or 205). As long as the paperwork is properly filed, you have a certified aircraft. BTW, Huey II is Bell's name for the upgrade-there are other companies doing similar mods (like HeliTrade in Oregon).

A buddy recently applied for the job of managing the KSC Hueys. My understanding that they are H models that received some (but not all) of the Huey II mods and are to the same spec as the Huey's the State Department bought for Iraq and use in Afganistan. They have the drivetrain mods, but not all the avionics mods. I don't remember if Bell did the mods or someone else installed Bell kits.

212 rotors are not uncommon on 205's. The River City Super 205A-1++ earlier in the post has the entire dynamic system from a 212 (transmission innards, mast, hub, blades, TR driveshaft, 42 and 90 gearboxes and tailrotor). HeliTrade offers this conversion. River City's sister company, South Coast, has an H with a 212 rotor (but not the tail rotor mod).

[EDWMatt]

Charlie,

Yep, I think they are definitely Huey II's. Right handed TR, 212 blades, 212 tail boom with cargo door and if you look close you'll see the position lights on either side of the tail. Of course some of those mods are found on civilian 205's but I have never seen a 205 with the 212 blades. There is also this NASA site which refers to them as Huey II's (actually a dang good place to find NASA birds in general). Not to mention I spoke with the guys who built em. I do confess that I really got no idea about the FAA stuff though. Maybe they should be considered 210's as I know those are FAA certified. I'm just not sure what the little differences are between the two other than their intended market.

Ray

Here are a couple more really cool NASA links:

Ames Rotorcraft Research through 1997 with Pics

Check the small article at the bottom of this document for info and pics of the safety stripes painted on Hueys in 2000

1994 pic of Langley Research Center:

Sad to note that not one of those aircraft are still at Langley. The F-16XL and T-38 are at Dryden (both in storage), the T-34 is at Glenn (as is the OV-10, although it's no longer a flyer). The 757 was ordered sold by the previous Aeronautics AA (its now with "Another Government Agency'), the 737 and the Heuy went to the boneyard and the B-90s were sold.

About the only stuff still flying at Langley are UAV's and a couple light aircraft (Lancair and a Glasair)

[rotorwash]

Matt,

Thanks for the explanation. My main interest has always been the military variants of the Huey so I confess I am not as up on the Super 205 A++ aircraft and such. Also, I really know nothing about the FAA certification process. I can say for sure that the BellAero US Helicopter plant in Ozark, Alabama is the only currently Bell licensed Huey II facility (I think a few were also converted at one of the Bell plants in Texas). As you say though, there are others offering similar upgrades to the Huey as well. Perhaps the ugliest, but apparently very functional, upgrades is the FastFin. Now that's a tail only a mother could love!

Ray

[Tailspin Turtle]

Another bit of trivia: The NASA/Army Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft was originally designated XV-14, since that was the next number in the series. I can't remember if that predated Bell winning the competition with Boeing, but I don't think that it did. NASA requested that it not be the XV-14 since at the time, Ames still had the Bell (Aircraft, i.e. Buffalo) X-14. The potential for confusion in work orders, etc. between a Bell X-14 and a Bell XV-14 was evident. DoD changed the TRRA designation to XV-15. XV-14 wasn't reused, although feel free to start a rumor that it is/was a stealth VTOL...

[EDWMatt]

Matt,

Thanks for the explanation. My main interest has always been the military variants of the Huey so I confess I am not as up on the Super 205 A++ aircraft and such. Also, I really know nothing about the FAA certification process. I can say for sure that the BellAero US Helicopter plant in Ozark, Alabama is the only currently Bell licensed Huey II facility (I think a few were also converted at one of the Bell plants in Texas). As you say though, there are others offering similar upgrades to the Huey as well. Perhaps the ugliest, but apparently very functional, upgrades is the FastFin. Now that's a tail only a mother could love!

Ray

Agree with you on the FastFin. Didn't know were Bell was doing Huey II conversions. Interesting to hear they are in Ozark. The first one was built up at Flight Test in Arlington. I did the eval when I was still with the Army.

There's a thriving industry in Huey upgrades. One of the more interesting ones to me is the Eagle Single, which converts the 212 to a single-engine configuration with an L-17 (-703 for you military types)

http://www.eaglecopters.com/

[EDWMatt]

Digging around a bit, I found a few more pics:

NASA 822, Bell 47G-3B. Operated at Dryden for many years as a general proficiency aircraft and as a trainer for VTOL pilots. Was originally obtained to familiarize pilots in VTOL flight for the LLRV (Lunar Landing Research Vehicle). This helicopter was used for the famous Dryden "water skiing tournament"

During a particularly wet year at Edwards, there was a fair amount of standing water on Rogers "dry" lakebed. Some of the pilots thought it would be fun to water ski, and, lacking a boat, figured the 47 would make a great tow vehicle. So that's what they did! The hooked a rope up to the helo and towed each other around on the wet lakebed. The 47 was retired sometime in the 1980's. This would be a neat subject for the re-released Italeri OH-13S. Dio anyone?

Here's the team picture from the Rotor Limits project. This was taken just after the airspeed calibration flight shown earlier in the thread. Aircraft on the left is JUH-60 NASA 748 (82-23748). This was an ex-AEFA Edwards test bird that was transferred to NASA when AEFA obtained a later Blackhawk (twelfth-year buy) to replace it. Middle aircraft is the Army AEFA JT-34C airspeed pacer (Bu. No. 160959). Aircraft on the right is UH-60A NASA 750 (78-23012). 750 was the safety chase for this flight. This aircraft is the old ADOCS (Advanced Digital Optical Control System) or "Lighthawk", which demonstrated a fly-by-light control system. Is now the RASCAL (Rotorcraft Aircrew Systems Concepts Airborne Laboratory), a variable stability, in-flight simulator, and replaced Chinook 737 in this role. If you like to play "Where's Waldo", I'm in this picture somewhere...

The P-3 in the background dates this picture around the mid-'90's (before the Navy left Moffett), but this is the current Ames (in fact all of NASA) rotorcraft research fleet. Blackhawks 748 and 750, and NAH-1S 736. The OH-58A+ is pretty much a pilot prof trainer. The two little helo's in the front are Yamaha RMax's and were used for NASA/Army research in UAV helicopters. I'm not sure they're still active. Maybe C-130CrewChief can shed some light.

Rotorcraft research has fallen on hard times at NASA, as the previous administration decided helicopters are a mature technology and NASA didn't need to spend much money on them. There is some fundamental research still on going, and NASA 750 was recently used in a program to develop and artificial vision system using millimeter wave radar to assist pilots in identifying obstacles when landing in 'brownout' conditions. The Rotorcraft Directorate at Ames operates in concert with the Army Flight Dynamics Directorate (AFDD), and all the helos are actually owned by the Army (so they don't carry N-numbers).

During NASA aircraft consolidation 10 or so years ago, the all the Ames aircraft were schedule to transfer to Dryden (that's how I ended up at NASA - I was recruited to be the helicopter operations manager for Dryden). This was considered to be a done-deal, although the transfer of the Ames fixed wings was in question. The rotorcraft group and AFDD threw a tantrum and threatened to shut down the entire rotary wing operation and return the aircraft to the Army if they were forced to move. They got their way, but all the fixed-wings moved to Edwards. With the transfer of the SOFIA 747 Program to Dryden, these helos are now the only NASA aircraft operation remaining at Moffett.

Edited July 23, 2010 by EDWMatt

[rotorwash]

Matt,

Cool stuff as always. Here's a pic of the ADOCS Light Hawk when it was a Army test aircraft. This photos is from 1989 and she is about to fly to Quad-A (Army Aviation Association of America for those that don't know) meeting in Atlanta. I know it's not NASA, but your previous post was such a great lead in I hope I can be forgiven. I have a bunch more pics form the 89 Quad A for the Test Aircraft thread.

Ray

Edited July 24, 2010 by rotorwash

[thatguy96]

Digging around a bit, I found a few more pics:

NASA 822, Bell 47G-3B. Operated at Dryden for many years as a general proficiency aircraft and as a trainer for VTOL pilots. Was originally obtained to familiarize pilots in VTOL flight for the LLRV (Lunar Landing Research Vehicle). This helicopter was used for the famous Dryden "water skiing tournament"

Was this an Army hand-me-down? I know the Army Aviation Board tested at least one of these (I believe it eventually got the designation JH-13K).