REPORT - OXCART A-12 AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCE DATA AND SYSTEMS RELIABILITY

Created: 1/15/1968

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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INTRODUCTION

This document contains experience data of the2 as ofncluding its BLACK SHIELD deployment and operations commencing in, and continuing since

APPROVED FOP RELEASE DATE; 7

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Fact Sheet

Record

Development Stages

Function2 Inlet

Inlet Picture

Sorties and Profiles Above

Time atnd Above

Aircraft Averageours Per Flight

Flights Sortie Effectiveness

Sortie Reliability Trend

Sortie Reliability Trend

System Reliability Trend

Flight Control Sortie Reliability Trend

System Sortie Reliability Trend

Systems Reliability

- Premature Terminations

Camera Systems

Camera Performance

Electronic Warfare System

LACKSHIELD OperationalReliability

CROWN "E"ir Refueling Mission)

CROWN "F"ir Refueling Mission)

Aircraft Accident Reliability

Reliability

Engine <Abort) Reliability for Engineand Operational Summary

fon pre.

top ciicncT

OXCART

AIRFRAME DATA

DATA

EET

EET

(BASIC)

BS.

(FUELED)

BS.

P&WWITH BYPASS

THRUST:

BS.

T.

DAY)

MACHKNOTS)

T.

IR REFUELING,

(CURRENT OBJECTIVE)

TOP iSFPRFT

HANDLE VIA BYEMAN CONTROL SYSTEM 1

EXPERIENCE RECORD

AIRCRAFT

Flight Total Flights Total Hours

Total Flights at

Total Hours at

Longest Flight at

Longestlaeingle Flight

Longest Single Flight Duration

ax

ax

00 Hours0 Feot

ENGINES

Total Engine

Total Engine

Total Engine Flights at Mach

Total Engine Flight Hours at Mach

Total Groundnvironmental Ground Test

our Qualification

INS

Flights

Total Flight Operating Hours Total Operating Time

9

- AUTO PILOT

Flights Total Flight Hours Total Operating Hours

0

IV

Flights

Total Flight Operating Hours Total Flights Aboveotal Hours atongest Flight at

4

1.5

7

1.3

STOUT

PILOTS

Pilot Experience

Average Total Flight Time (All Aircraft)

Tiae2 (Least .'Avg-'Most)

Time In Project

2 Flights

0

LIFE SUPPORT

Suit Flights (Detachment)

Flight Tests

DETACHMENT

Tiae in Trainingnit

Average Time in Project (Personnel)

0onths

h began trainingnit coincident with delivery of first aircraft (trainer) inrior to that It had been supporting LAC flight tost effort

2 AIRCRAFT

INVENTORY

Operational Aircraft Two-Seater Trainer Flight Test Aircraft

J " f*

FLIGHT DEVEAGE S

The single most important problem pacing the flight development (opposite page) of2 has been the air inlet and its control system. This system which provides the proper amount of ram air to the engines at all flight conditions must minimize shock oxpulsions (mistatutomatically recover (restart) whon shock expulsions do occur, and at the same time operate at optimum officiency In order to maximize engine performance and aircraft range. Tho notations under developmenthroughll refer to problems and components of this system. of these has leadeliability commensurate with the operational readiness ostabllshod In

Fuselageoint Beefup (Stage IV B) involved strengthening fuselage structure at the wing joint because of heavier electronic warfare systems payload weight

FLIGHT DEVELOPMENT STAGES

I. 5 (To

Roughness at

Restart capability

Instability and Unstarts

II.

Mice Corrected IA

Bypass Incorporation Corrected IB

Instability and Unstarts Still Encountered

III.

A. Spike Static Probe and "J" Cam Inlet Control Improved 1IC But Did Not Correct Condition

IV. 0

to Lockheed Electronic InletIIC

oint Beel'up

V. Operational Alert5 On)

Capability

Performance Optimization and

VI. Phase Out

A. Onecision was made by higher authority to terminate the OXCART program as of An orderly phase-out program was implemented to carry out this decision.

VII. Operational Deployment

VIII. Operational Deployment extended through8.

TOP CfiCltKT

A supersonic Inlet or air Induction system Is designed to provide best possible aerodynamic performanceange of supersonic Mach numberstable and steady flow of air to the ongino. However, due to constraints imposed by supersonic aerodynamics, truly optimum performance with an ideal shock pattern and an inlet airflow exactly matched to the engine airflow requirement can only bo provided at one flight condition. Since the OXCART aircraft must cruise for considerable periods of timepuod, maximum possible range Is realized by providing this optimum inlet performance at theruise condition. Tlie basic geometry and airflow characteristics of the inlet aro then varied toinimum compromise of aerodynamic performance and efficiency at lower flight speeds. Some of this needed flexibility is provided by varying the position of the inlet spike. Since the airflow which can be admitted by the inlet is In excess of that which can be accepted by the engine at other than the design condition, this excess airflow is dumped ovorboarderies of forward bypass doors or passed down the nacelle airflow passage around the engineorios of aft bypass doors.

In addition to those airflow passages ehown on the accompanyingystem is also provided for bleeding off tho low energy boundary layer air which forms along the surface of the spike. This improves inlet efficiency by making the entire main inlet flow passage available to the high energy, high velocity air.

A rather complicated automatic electronic control system senses aerodynamic environment to provide the proper scheduling of spike and forward bypass door positions at all flight conditions. Aft bypass door positions are selected manually by the pilot.

ORTIES/PROFILES ABOVEETACHMENT AIRCRAFT

This chartreakout of those Detachment sorties flown from5 through7 wherein2 aircraft flew above. The profiles column lists the number of times the aircraft accomplished the high/fast operational profile during the sorties flown In theigh and fast after takeoff, descend for air refueling, climb back up to high and fast again, etc.

2 major/minimum modification program gotin the latter part of Sorties flown during the period outlined inere in non-modified aircraft.

TOP SliCHMT

ORTIES AND PROFILES ABOVEETACHMENT ACFT/SORTIES

(Tlirough

Mar1

Total 52

Total 57

Aug1

Total600

Total920

ar1:

Total

Total977

2 flight aboven5 by

.

r.

>

TOP SKTBFT

CUMULATIVE TIME ATND ABOVE

Tho rate oi accumulation ofime an shown by the slope of the curve (opposite page) began to substantially increase In Prior to this time,light was confined to the three flight test aircraft only. After5 each of the seven detachment (operational) aircraft as they completed necessary modifications began to fly atnd aboveoutine basis.

The significance of this data is that during tho past thirty-throe months sincelight hours atnd above have boen accumulated as compared to onlyours accumulated during the throe years from first flight in2 to

Ton srcHfc'T

pi

3

80.

>

mean

HANDLE VIA BYEMAN CONTROL SYSTEM

DETACHMENT AIRCRAFT AVERAGE"OURS PER FLIGHT

The chart opposite shows the average time spent atnd above for each flight. It is based upon alllights of detachment aircraft for the period examined including the relatively short Lockheed and detachment operated functional check flights as well as the longer multiple refueling training flights andmissions. Prior to5 there were nolights on detachment aircraft. The peak8ours per flight during the fall5 reflects the validation or demonstration period wherein three refueling simulated missions were performed. During6 flight activity was substantially curtailed during the investigation ofccident with only some of the short functional check flightsery few minutes at Mach. 3. This is normal procedureeriod of inactivity wherein it is necessary to recheck all systems during short periods atrior to resuming the longerraining flights. Byormal level of training activity was resumed reflectingours ater flight. Tho poriod botween January and7 reflected training flights with usually one or sometimes two refueling(s) rather than the longer and more costly three refuoling simulated missions performed during the fall The slight increase in averageime per flight for the current reporting period reflects the BLACK SHIELD activity.

TOP ClililUiT

BLACKSHIELD IMPLEMENTED

Flight activity geared to maintain pilotand operational alert status. orlal refueling training flights.

accident

Maximum effort BLACK SHIELD validation.

1

Demonstrationits with Ninime eachrs.

Nolights, Aircraft in Mod.

T

d at co

CO

o

RS PER FLIGHT

top srrui't

rflP crrefT

detachment flights sortie effectiveness

The chart opposite shows the trend olow4 to the low eighties. Each flight or sortie is rated either effective or not effectivo on the basis of all subsystems performing properly such that all planned objectives of the sortie were satisfactorily accomplished. The total sorties flown arc divided Into the number rated effective to arrive at the percent effective figure. The sorties rated not effective do not mean that all such sorties were prematurely terminated or aborted. Certainly all premature terminations or aborts which did occur are Included in these data as are those sorties which wore fully completed but on which all planned objectives could not be accomplished. Premature terminations assignable to oach subsystem are reflected subsequently under Subsystem Sortie Reliability. Hence tho difference in Sortie Effectiveness and Sortie Reliability.

09

X

00

SiTRFT

The chart opposite presents the inlet sortie reliability trend andeneral improvement of Inlet reliability. For the period5 tonly three of all attempted sorties were prematurely terminated due to problems with the Inlet system. These three flights were prematurely terminated due to Inlet unstarts or other problems associated with actuation or scheduling of tho inlet spike and/or bypass doors. lightly loss reliable rato obtained over theay to6 during which six sorties were terminated outnitiated, all for reasons similar to those mentioned for tho period5 to The rate remained almost constant througheptember to6 period when six sorties were terminated outnitiated, again for the same reasons as cited earlier. There was considerable improvement in inlet performance7 and7 when only eight sorties wore terminated outnitiated.

fiCREI

ompletjedl initiated

1 JanO Jun 67

nitiatee

Sep1 Dec 66

sortiis compleljed ofnitiated

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Nov0 Apr 66

Aug0 Nov 65

sorties completjed of

Marpr 65

The facing chart presents the engine reliability trend andenerally very high current level of reliability for the engine with an overall average level of reliability for the tine period covered on this chart of better9 flights successfully completednitiated). orties attempted in the period5 to7 which represents more thanonths of operations, only twelve aortios were prematurely terminated dueroblem with the ongine. One engine problem occurredesultailure In the system which injects fuel into the afterburnor,oss of an afterburner spraybar threaded-end plug. The othor premature terminations due to engine problems were caused by an Inlet guide vane failure whichompressor inlot temperature sensor failure, an Independent compressor inlet tomperature sensor failure, exhaust gas temperature and RPM fluctuation, two engine electrical harness deficiencies, lack of ability to trim exhaust gas temperature on an engine dueurned out trimmer motor, and two afterburner fuel control malfunctions. Design changes have been developed to correct the hardware problems which caused the first six deacribed failures. The other six failures aro considered to beandom nature.

TOP SFPPFT

a oo e

SortlJf

uiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

1 Julec 67

orties complotfednitiatec

1 SopI Dec 66

3

MayI Aug 66

X

11

I

0 Jl

nitlatod

orties completednitiate)

ortiis complctbd of 71

Nov0 Apr 66

6 AugO Nov 65

orties completed ofnitiated

NAVIGATION SYSTEM RELIABILITY TREND

During this reporting period, two sorties wereterminated due to apparent INS malfunctions. One of the terminations resultedad steering motor In the ropoater circuit. The other, upon moro extensive ground checking, was dueroken wire onf thenverter and was, in fact, an Interface Although the ln-flight reliability of the INS has remainedery high level, the nean-tlme-betwcea-fallure hours havo been decreasing steadily, primarily because of the very large number of operating hours already on the systems. On rare occasions even dlllgont ground maintenance is unable to prevent an air abort. Under present OXCART phasedown ground rules no funds have been made available for an INS IRAN program which Is nocessary to raise the mean-tlme-betweon-failures up to the original level.

ort I

sortl

completed] initiated]

1 JanO Jun 67

Sep Dec 66

sort,

Mayl Aug 66

sortl

Novpr 66

sortl

completed and ln

llllllllllllllll lllllllllllllll

Aug 65

0 Nov 65

ompletf 36

llllllllllllllll lllllllllilllll llllllllllllllll

Mayun 65

sortl

complet

lilill-

65

HANDLE VIA BYEMAN CONTROL SYSTEM

During this reporting period only one sortie was prematurely terminated duelight control system malfunction. oll transfer valve in the roll channel of the stability augmentation system opened intermittently with hot oil applied. Thisandom "oneind" malfunction.

TOP ssavEE

09

Jul1 Dec 67

ompletednitiated

Jan0 Jun 67

orties completed and initiated

May1 Aug 66

Aug0 Nov 65

sorties completed and initiated

Mayun 65

-i!

Marpr 65

3

The aircraft hydraulic systom sortie reliability level has remained steadily high,ince Four flights were terminated prematurely due to hydraulic system problems during the period5 toutotalortlos initiated.

HANDLE VIA BYEMAN CONTROL SYSTEM

8

sort

comple

Jul1 Dec 67

sortl

complc

Jan0 Jun 67

aortlts lultla

and cc opleted

Sep1 Dec 66

sort! *s lniti

pleted

May1 Aug 66

pr 66

sortie** initiated and coniplftud

Aug0 Nov 65

sortlop Initiated and completed

May5 Jun 65

sortiefe lnitiat

and coejpleted

Mar0 Apr 65

TOP MCMg

"OTHER" SYSTEMS RELIABILITY

"Other" systems referred toide variety of systems and events. etailed listing is contained on the page following the facing chart. There was marked Improvement ln tho number of premature terminations during theuly through7 when only eleven flights outnitiated were terminated for "other" systems or ovents. Special emphasis is being placed on higher quality control and closer supervision to achlove continued Improvement.

Ton srrgrT

m

sortl

couplet

1 Jul1 Doc 67

sortl

Sepl Doc 66

sortli

initiatod

1 Mayug 66

sortl*

complot

lllllllllllllll llllllllllllllll

ov0 Apr 66

onplvt

of 71

ug0 Nov 65

TOU SFfHFT

win srrpFT

REMATURE TERMINATIONS

The opposite table first summarizes the prematurely terminated sorties assignable to each of the foregoing subsystem charts for tho latest period examined7 through The number of sorties initiated for each subsystem may differ because only the sorties on which that particular subsystem was used is counted. The engine, being used on every sortie, reflects the total numberorties initiated during the period.

"Other" includes all other prematuressigned to the indicated problems or components which are not part of the foregoing major subsystems examined.

Total premature terminations for the7 through7 areutotalorties initiated.

Engine

AFCS

Hydraulic

INS

Spike, Fluctuations

ENP, Fuel Flow Nozzle Fluctuations and Oil Pressure Fluctuations Duo Engine Harness Problem*

SAS Pitch Control, SAS Roll

Left System Failed

Large Terminal Error and Bad Stoorlng

3

3 1

2

.

Faulty Fuel Pressure Indicator

Roll SAS Malfunction, Due Faulty Servo's

INS Failure, Duenverter Inoperative

Autonav Steering Error, Due Pilot Error

HF/SSB Inoperative

ailure Camera Failed

SAS Yaw Transients and Rudder Oscillations, Duo Power Interruption

Fillet Panel Loss

Pitch Trim Malfunction

Fuel Leak

TflP SECRET

TOP SECRET

CAMERA SYSTEMS

ameras aro built by Perkin-Elmer. Tlioro are fiveC" aeries In the inventory. With the phase-down of the OXCART program the twoA" series were placed In storage.

Type IV cameras aro built by Hycon. There aro three of these in the Inventory. Two of these have been validated and declared operationally ready. The third Is scheduled for prevalidatlon and validation flights on or about

The first summation (opposite page) includea only test flights at0 feet altitude plus the twenty-two operational missions. The second summation Includes all flights including operational missions since the beginning of the program.

ffir grrnriT,

CAMERA PERFORMANCE (As of

Test Flight Time at0 feet

C" Series

in.

Type3 Min.

TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE

C" Series

98Flights

75Hours

6Failures

Type IV

lightsoursailures

TOP SECRET

|

ELECTRONIC WARFARE SYSTEM

Sy8toisbioIlows"Ctl0nal doBcrlption of the Electronic Warfare DEFENSIVE:

BIG BLAST -

DOG -/

r

PEG -/

^MAD MOTH -/

A rodundancy exists between the recognition andemployed, thusowor degree oftho aircraft and accounting for the high degreetotal system

ELINT COLLECTION:

SYSTEM RELIABILITY

Tne chart opposite summarizes three levels of reliability for each major system from5 through The first (red) barometer for each system reflects the percent of sorties completed safely by that systom relative to the total sorties initiated for that system. The second or green barometer reflects the percent of the sorties initiated which were not prematurely terminated or aborted because of that system. The third (black) barometer reflects tho percent of sorties Initiated during which that system operated completely satisfactorily. Numerical figures used in tbe percentages aro shown below each barometer.

"Interface" refers to tho system listed to the left of "interface" and accounts for malfunctions which are not assignableault of the system itself but which affected the system's overall operation. Typical examples aregenerated electrical power or cooling air interruptions to such systems as the cameras, navigation and stability systems.

INTERFACK

CNi

I, II, IV

ICNJ

PHOTOGRAPHIC

CNJ

SYSTEM

SYSTEM

its

INLET SYSTEM

LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM

PERCENT SORTIES

s

< w

owe

iio--

0

k-h <N

h

*

IJIJCIU'T.

SCOPE CROWN "E" IR REFUELING MISSION)

This mission was developedamera package evaluation route. Resolution targets at Phoenix, Arizona, are covored. The route also incorporates an over-water air. off the coast of California. Route was first flown in

TY1P CirniT 36

SCOPE CROWN "F" IR REFUELING MISSION)

This mission was developed from SCOPE CROWN An additional air refueling and cruise climb leg was added to simulate an operational mission for pilot training. Mission was first flown In

HANDLE VIA BYEMAN CONTROL SYSTEM

TOP KffPBFT

IRCRAFT ACCIDENT RELIABILITY

The chart opposite reflects the four aircraft accidents which have occurred during the program through7

SfVf.act that notf thesethe high Mach number-high temperature regimein which this program has spearheaded the Also of interest is that two of thesein the local home base area within feet of the these accidents involved traditionalin any

's accident occurred onhe baseoutine training flight. It plugged pilot static tube during icing conditions erroneous cockpit instrument indications of airpilot was ejected

's accident occurred4 during landing approach. Italfunction of the flight control surface actuating system resultingontinuous and uncontrollable roll. The pilot was ejected safely.

ccident occurred on5 .Ur off climb-out. Ituman error wherein the flight line electrician connected the wiring for the yaw and pitch gyros of the stability system ln reverse. This resulted in complete uncontrollability of the aircraft. The pilot was ejected safely.

's accident occurred7 during descent aboutiles from the base, ituel system gaging malfunction resultingigher than actual indicated fuel quantity reading. Because of this, the aircraft was out of fuel before reaching the base. The pilot was killed on impact with the ground becausealfunction precluding man-seat separation after ejection from the aircraft.

Tnp SFCRET

PERCENT SORTIES RETURNED

Apr1 Doc 67

prl Aug 67

VIA BYEMAN CONTROL SYSTEM

TOP SECflliT,

i8

ENGINE RELIABILITY

The accompanying chart8 engine abort reliability. ifferentiation is made botweon aborts which occurred at any timelight (complete flight) and those which occurred alter climb. The aborts which occurred after climb are considered to bo more representative of those which might occur over denied territory. The abort reliability on an after climb basis is better. This lovel of reliability is computed on the basis8 engine flights which have taken place since theof an operable aircraft Inlet system on all programs Includingnd

M GI ME (ABOT) RELIABILITY TOR ENGINE CAUSE CUMULATIVE THROUGHECEMBERi7)

a

NUMBER OF ENGINE FLIGHTS EXAMINED

CJ

a a

o

10

(3

U U .Ik

0 to to *>

c

2

2

i to

c

DCnBT

BLACK SHIELD DEPLOYMENT AND OPERATIONAL SUMMARY

A. DEPLOYMENT

May7 ACFT flew non-stop from

AB, Okinawa0 hours, me iught required top-offerialand0 feet during cruise ator two legsor ono leg.

7 ACFTlew non-stopKadena AB, Okinawa0 hours.

The flight was similar to that of ACFTbove except an altitudo0 feet was reached during cruise.

3- 7 ACFTlow

Wake Island0 hours. landingwage "Island was precautionary duealfunctioning navigation system. Ihe flight was made at0 feet altitude. The aircraft proceeded uneventfully to Kadena on

B. OPERATIONAL SORTIES

(All missions employed thoamera) (altitudes and Mach numbers represent maximum attained during mission).

1 Mission was flown atnd bo,ooo feeturation5 hours. Imagery quality: Good.

Mission was flown at0 feeturation0 hours. Imagery quality: Good.

0 Mission was flown at0 feeturation0 hours. Imagery quality: Excellent.

0 Mission was flown at0 feeturation0 hours. Imagery quality: Good.

5- Mission was flown at50 feeturation0 hours. Imagery quality: Good.

ission was flown at70 Teeturation8 hours. Imagery quality: Excellent.

0 Mission was flown at6 andeeturation5 hours. Imagery quality: Good, despite haze problem.

1 Mission was flown at0 feeturation5 hours.

Imagery quality: Good to Excellent.

Mission was flown ateeturation2 hours.

Imagery quality: Good until camera malfunctioned.

Mission was flown at

5 and SO.OdO feeturation1 hours. Imagery quality: Good.

Mission was flown at60 feeturation0 hours. Imagery quality: Excellent.

Mission was flown at40 feeturation9 hours. Imagery quality: Excellent,

Mission was flown at90 feeturation0 hours. Imagery quality: Good. Mission was prematurely terminated dueaulty oil pressure indicator.

Mission was flown atd0 feeturation1 hours. Imagery quality: Good.

Mission was flownl0 feeturation1 hours. Imagery quality: Good.

topVIA BYEMAN

TnP.PnCBlTT ,

8 Mission was flown at50 feeturation9 hours. Imagery quality: Good.

9 Mission was flown at30 feeturation6 hours. Imagery quality: Good. "

0 Mission was flown at00 feeturation4 hours. Imagery quality: Good.

Mission was flown ato0 feeturation9 hours. Imagery quality: Good.

0ission was flown at70 "feeTuration1 hours. Imagery quality: Good.

5 Mission was flown at

0eeturation9 hours. Imagery quality: Good.

22. Mission was flown at

00 feeturation6 hours. Imagery quality: Good.

j ^

1 .

Original document.

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