Develop an Expendable, Gun-Launched Observation Vehicle

A low risk, low cost, classical design observation vehicle will be developed for gull launching. The observation vehicle concept is based on a light-weight loitering aircraft, packaged in a "shell" that will enable the aircraft to survive the large acceleration/deceler- ation loads associated with gun launch systems. The shell encasing the observation aircraft and avionics payload is designed to carry the required 15,000 g impulsive launch acceleration, the 7,000 g rebound acceleration, and the very high initial flight dynamic pressure (10,000 psi). For these large loads, the projectile/shell casing is relatively heavy, and the casing requires disposal to ensure the loitering observation aircraft weight is as light as possible. Thus, the proposed aircraft, to be designed for minimum weight, will fly at low dynamic pressure (approximately 10 to 20 psf). However, the minimum launch trajectory dynamic pressure is approximately 500 psE Therefore, the conceptual aircraft should have a parachute or some other large drag producing device to decelerate the projectile shell and aircraft combination to acceptable flight speeds (10 to 20 psf) prior to disca rding the shell casing and prior to deployment of the aircraft wings, tails, and propulsion propeller for low speed loitering flight.