CURRENT AIRCRAFT TRANSPARENCY MATERIAL AND SYSTEMS ARE INADEQUATE TO COPE WITH A NUMBER OF PRESENT AND FUTURE OPERATIONAL THREATS.

CURRENT AIRCRAFT TRANSPARENCY MATERIAL AND SYSTEMS ARE INADEQUATE TO COPE WITH A NUMBER OF PRESENT AND FUTURE OPERATIONAL THREATS. THESE INCLUDE: AEROHEATING AT HIGH MACH NUMBERS; HIGH COCKPIT TEMPERATURES IN STAGNANT, SUNNY GROUND CONDITIONS; CONDENSATION; FLASH BLINDNESS FROM NUCLEAR BURSTS AT NIGHT; AND TRANSPARENCY DAMAGE FROM ENGAGEMENT WITH LASER RADIATION. THE PROPOSED STUDY WILL EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF USING A TEMPERATURE, PHOTOCHROMIC, AND/OR COLOR CONDITIONED FLUID BETWEEN CHANNELED LAYERS OF A TRANSPARENCY SYSTEM TO DETERMINE THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE ABOVE THREATS CAN BE NULLIFIED. INITIAL EFFORTS WILL INVOLVE DEFINITIONS OF THE HEATING, RADIATION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS EXPECTED FOR A TYPICAL TRANSPARENCY SYSTEM. USING THESE DEFINITIONS ALONG WITH INFORMATION DEVELOPED ON CANDIDATE FLUIDS A BREADBOARD TEST ARRANGEMENT WILL BE DEFINED. TESTING WILL BE CONDUCTED WITH DIFFERENT FLUIDS TO DEMONSTRATE LIGHT RESPONSE OF PHOTOCHROMIC ELEMENTS AND PREDICTED HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM PERFORMANCE. SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE WILL INDICATE VIABILITY OF THE CONCEPT AND DEFINE AVENUES FOR PHASE II WORK DEVELOPMENT.