Page 10 - Aerotech News and Review 3-18-16

New probe could improve sonic boom investigation

in a flight environment and ³,IWKHÀLJKWVJRDVSODQQHGWKH(DJOH$HUR3UREHVFRXOGEH

the results will be compared used to measure the shockwaves generated by future supersonic
with a traditional NACA-style
probe that was flown on the aircraft,” Pauer said. “This data could help improve aircraft de-
centerline instrumented pylon sign tools that would ultimately reduce the loudness of sonic
in 2012. In addition to obtain- booms.”
ing air data measurements un-
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derneath the F-15B, the probe F-15B as part of a continuing effort that began as a NASA Re-

will measure the strength of a search Announcement effort in 2009. The probes were tested

shockwave generated from, as in the Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel at NASA’s Langley Research
of yet, an undetermined part of
the F-15B aircraft structure. &HQWHULQ+DPSWRQSULRUWRÀLJKWUHVHDUFKDW1$6$$UPVWURQJ
)URPWKHGDWDREWDLQHGGXULQJWKLVFXUUHQWÀLJKWSKDVHDNH\
“You want to have mini-
mal lag in your measurement GH¿FLHQF\ZLWKWKHSUHYLRXVJHQHUDWLRQVRIWKHSUREHDSSHDUVWR
system in order to accurately be solved, Frederick said. A heater control system added into the

characterize the intensity of the probe keeps the pressure transducer temperatures stable at 150

shockwave,” said Mike Fred- degrees F, minimizing temperature effects on the pressure trans-

erick, NASA Armstrong prin- ducers and resulting in more accurate pressure measurements.
cipal investigator of the Eagle

Aero Probe. “With this probe,

pressure

changes are

seen almost

)URPOHIW0LNH)UHGHULFNDQG1$6$LQWHUQV-DFN/\DQG.DVVLG\0F/DXJKOLQPRQLWRUDÀLJKW immediately
because the

pressure

CZ+BZ-FWJOF sensors are

NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center located within about four inches of the pres-

sure ports on the nosecone. For comparison,
An air data probe intended to improve investigation of sonic on the F-15B nose boom, which has been used
booms is flying on the F-15B aircraft at NASA’s Armstrong for air-to-air probing in the past, the pressure
Flight Research Center. Calif.
transducers are located back in the radome, ap-
1$6$¶VJRDOIRUVRQLFERRPUHVHDUFKLVWR¿QGZD\VWRFRQWURO proximately 15 feet behind the pressure ports.”

and lessen the noise from shockwaves so that federal regulators A later phase of the testing will be to install

ZLOODOORZFRPPHUFLDOVXSHUVRQLFÀLJKWRYHUODQG the probe on either the nose of the F-15B, or on

7KHFXUUHQWVL[ÀLJKWVHULHVLVVHWWRFRQWLQXHWKURXJKDERXW one of NASA’s F-15D aircraft based at Arm-

mid-March, said Brett Pauer, F-15B project manager. Much like strong, Pauer said. The Eagle Aero Probe will

HDUOLHUÀLJKWWHVWVLQDQGWKH(DJOH$HUR3UREHLV replace the current nose boom during shock-

À\LQJRQWKH)%VWHVW¿[WXUHFDOOHGWKHFHQWHUOLQHLQVWUXPHQW ZDYHSURELQJUHVHDUFKÀLJKWVKHDGGHG

pylon. The pylon is located under the aircraft’s fuselage. The later flights will look at shockwaves NASA photographa by Lauren Hughes
Researchers will be evaluating the performance of the probe generated by another nearby supersonic aircraft
and are expected to obtain more accurate data $QHZVXSHUVRQLFSUREHVHHQDI¿[HGWRD)%ÀLJKWWHVW¿[WXUHPLJKWRQHGD\
originally developed by Eagle Aeronautics of Hampton, Va., and than traditional probes, Pauer explained. measure the sonic booms of a new generation of supersonic aircraft.
redesigned by NASA for this phase. The probe will be tested

5HVHDUFKRQWKH(DJOH$HUR3UREHLVRQJRLQJIURPDQ)%ÀLJKWWHVW¿[WXUHDVWKHDLUFUDIWÀLHVPLVVLRQVRYHUWKH+LJK'HVHUW NASA photograph by Jim Ross

10 Aerotech News and Review March 18, 2016

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