A Year of Bomber Test -- Legacy and Lessons Learned

Richard Salasovich, USAF 419th FLTS, Edwards AFB, CA, USA
Paul Harmer, USAF 419th FLTS, Edwards AFB, CA, USA

Abstract

The 419th Flight Test Squadron (419 FLTS), located at Edwards Air Force Base, California, is responsible for developmental testing of the B-1B, B-2A, and B-52H aircraft for the US Air Force. The Operations Engineering Flight at the 419 FLTS is comprised of operations engineers, test conductors, and test directors who are responsible for coordinating the efforts of the entire flight test team.

The operations engineer begins the flight test mission planning process by translating engineering requirements into cogent test cards. They assign specific test points to a mission objective summary and assemble a notional outline of a prospective test mission. They schedule and deconflict resources and mission requirements.

The test conductor then appropriates mission planning activities and acts as the absolute focal point of the mission, ensuring overall quality of the test planning process in the final days leading up to a mission. They conduct the mission readiness review, control the execution of the mission from the control room, and draft the “quicklook report” documenting that particular flight test in detail.

The test director (as opposed to the test conductor) acts as the squadron commander’s representative during a mission and has absolute authority to cancel a mission at any time at his discretion whenever anything fails to meet standard test criteria, proper test discipline, or violates test safety.

Several flight test programs took place on all three airframes over the past year. The B-1B integrated the Joint Standoff Weapon and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile to the platform. The B-2A completed regression testing to validate the newest software drop and added a new tactical Link-16 terminal that promises to improve pilot situational awareness during combat. The focus of B-52H testing has been upgrading the offensive avionics system to carry the platform to 2037.

Lessons learned were documented throughout the three test programs in a never-ending effort to improve flight test safety and efficiency. Communications procedures were standardized between the mission control room, the aircrew, and the range. Ground test planning procedures were adopted to mirror, as much as possible, the rigorous planning required of flight test. Finally, configuration control procedures were implemented to preclude the incorrect integration of test hardware.