CONCEPTUALIZATION DESIGN AND PROTOTYPING OF HIGH-VELOCITY SIMULATED AIRPLANE TARGETS OPERATING ON AN AERIAL CABLE TROLLEY

AN INVESTIGATION WILL BE CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE DESIGN PARAMETERS NECESSARY TO DEVELOP AN AIRBORNE TARGET SYSTEM THAT CAN BE ATTACHED TO AN AERIAL-CABLE-SUPPORTED AND GUIDED TROLLEY. THE TROLLEY PROPELLED SYSTEM WILL BE CAPABLE OF SPEEDS UP TO AND INCLUDING 550 KNOTS (APPROX. 630 MPH). DUE TO THE MAXIMUM TROLLEY SPEED OF 550 KNOTS AND THE CATENARY CURVE OF THE SUPPORT CABLE, IT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR THE TARGET ASSEMBLY TO MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL LIFT CONFIGURATION THROUGH THE ENTIRE OPERATIONAL RUN CONSISTING OF RAPID ACCELERATION, CONSTANT SPEED AND RAPID DECELERATION. NEUTRAL LIFT AND TARGET STABILITY MUST BE MAINTAINED DURING THE ENTIRE OPERATIONAL CYCLE. IT WILL ALSO BE NECESSARY TO COORDINATE THE DESIGN EFFORT WITH THE EFFORT BEING EXTENDED ON THE "HIGH SPEED AERIAL CABLE TARGET TROLLEY" (REF: SBIR #A90-291). THIS JOINT EFFORT IS NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH (1) WEIGHT LIMITTIONS, (2) STRUCTURAL LOADING (G'S) RESULTING FROM ACCELERATION, STEADY SPEED AND DECELERATION, (3) QUICK CONNECT AND DISCONNECT FROM TROLLEY, (4) AUTOMATIC DISCONNECT AND DESCENT, IF REQUIRED, DURING FLIGHT AND (5) QUICK DISCONNECT POWER CABLES BETWEEN TROLLEY AND TARGET.