Usage and flight loads analysis of King Airs in aerial firefighting missions

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Authors
Kliment, Linda K.
Rokhsaz, Kamran
Nelson, John A.
Terning, Brett R.
Weinstein, Edward M.
Advisors
Issue Date
2015-05
Type
Article
Keywords
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Citation
Linda K. Kliment, Kamran Rokhsaz, John Nelson, Brett Terning, and Edward M. Weinstein. Usage and Flight Loads Analysis of King Airs in Aerial Firefighting Missions. Journal of Aircraft 2015 52:3, 910-916
Abstract

Flight data of Beechcraft King Airs used as aerial supervision modules and lead aircraft by the U.S. Forest Service are analyzed. The operational conditions experienced by the airplanes are studied as well as the magnitude of the vertical loads. The airplanes are flown in four different types of missions in U.S. Forest Service operation. Data from 1853 flights and seven aircraft are presented. Spectra are shown for gust and maneuver loads, separated using the two-second rule. These are given for the entire flight for various mean sea-level altitudes. In addition, the combined loads are presented and compared to existing data and Federal Aviation Regulation 23. It is shown that these aircraft are operated well within their design envelope. It is demonstrated that, although gust loads are comparable to those outlined in Federal Aviation Regulation 23, the maneuver load frequencies far exceed those of typical airframe use. Although these results do not warrant changes to Federal Aviation Regulation 23, they highlight the need for modified airframe maintenance and inspection procedures as well as the estimated airframe fatigue life.

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Publisher
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Journal
Book Title
Series
Journal of Aircraft;v.52:no.3
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
0021-8669
EISSN