Real-Time Sledborne KEAS and Downtrack Acceleration Measurement

For the proposed program, we will develop a unique test hardware to trigger egress events for the Holloman High Speed Test Track (HHSTT). At present, the go/no-go decision relies solely on sled groundspeed with calculation of equivalent airspeed and acceleration post-test. Further, airspeed is determined using trackside meteorological measurements such as temperature, pressure altitude, and downtrack wind. Considerable improvement to this legacy system may be realized by measuring indicated airspeed and barometric altitude in situ on the sled. Therefore, Mainstream Engineering proposes to modify its Time, Position, and Space Information (TPSI, pronounced “Tipsy�) System currently being developed under a parallel program – which includes a fiber-optic based position indicator – allowing for direct measurement of the barometric altitude, indicated airspeed, and acceleration. Our concept would replace the currently used trackside screenbox break-wire trigger with an electronic system that is first “armed� based on a pre-test determination of desired track position range and then “triggered� using real-time KEAS – calculated using the indicated airspeed and barometric altitude – and acceleration measurements.