Deployed Flight Test of the Iraqi Air Force Comp Air 7SLX (CA-7).

摘要

This historical publication demonstrates the utility and flexibility of flight test as illustrated by the developmental test and evaluation (DT&E) project conducted in 2005 and 2006 in support of U.S. Central Command and the Iraqi Air Force. The Comp Air 7SLX (CA-7) aircraft was an experimental aircraft, also known as a homebuilt or kitplane, built from a kit manufactured by Aero Comp Inc. While deployed to Kirkuk Air Base (AB), Iraq to conduct developmental test and evaluation (DT&E), personnel from the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) and 412th Test Wing (412 TW) at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), California, and other units assigned to Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) faced hardships and dangers not usually encountered in DT&E, as well as fundamental problems in accomplishing the project in a combat zone. The project illustrated the types of tasks a flight test program entailed. These included securing funding, determining the appropriate aims and scope of the flight test program, ensuring the safe conduct of flight test at Edwards AFB, California and Kirkuk AB, Iraq, and collecting data to support a final recommendation. The CA-7 project demonstrated that the personnel of AFFTC and 412 TW could conduct flight test wherever and whenever needed, using whatever tools and resources were available. Despite the hazards of the deployed environment and the lack of proper equipment, the flight test professionals accomplished their mission in accordance with the test plan and on schedule. Ultimately, the CA-7 project illustrated the importance in flight test and in the acquisition process of applying sound engineering judgments as the basis for decision-making.