Exploratory study of C-130 flight loads in forest service operation
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Kliment, L. K., Rokhsaz, K., Ali, S. J., & Nelson, J. A. (2021). Exploratory study of C-130 flight loads in forest service operation. Paper presented at the AIAA Scitech 2021 Forum, 1-10. doi:10.2514/6.2021-0301
Abstract
Operational load factors for C-130 airtankers flown in support of the United States Forest Service firefighting efforts are presented. In total, the results are based on 1,454 flights, with 792 hours of flight time. The flights are separated into ferry and maintenance flights and those containing firefighting operations. In addition, the firefighting flights are separated into five phases. Gust and maneuver load factor exceedance spectra are presented for each phase, normalized per 1000 hours of flight time. The exceedance spectra are compared for the firefighting and ferry/maintenance flights. Comparisons are also made with similar aircraft being flown in USFS operations.