NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- The T-45 Goshawk Hot Section Reliability Improvement (HSRIP) team here was presented with the Society of Flight Test Engineers (SFTE) 2009 James S. McDonnell Flight Test Team Award at the SFTE’s 40th Annual Symposium Award Banquet in Stockholm, Sweden, Sept. 10.

The team is responsible for the Navy’s incorporation of a derivative of the Rolls-Royce MK 951 Adour engine into the T-45, according to Bruce Feldman, a flight test engineer for the HSRIP program.

“The HSRIP was introduced to provide longer engine life and improved reliability,” said Jennifer McAteer, lead flight test engineer for the HSRIP program “The HSRIP engine, designated the F405-RR-402, also provided a solution for fleet safety issues due to engine surge problems.”

Feldman said the F405-RR-402 provides a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC), an improved backup Manual Fuel Control (MFC) system, and a new hot section that should provide longer life. Operationally, the FADEC provides automatic surge detection and recovery logic, an improved airstart envelope and the potential to optimize the engine's transient schedules for glideslope handling qualities.

The HSRIP team is composed of personnel from NAVAIR, Boeing, Rolls Royce and Wyle, as well as Navy, Marine Corps and Boeing test pilots. It falls under the Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems Program Office (PMA-273) here. The program conducted its first HSRIP test flight Dec. 18, 2007 and has since completed more than 100 flight test missions.

According to Feldman, the HSRIP test program maximized lessons learned from previous T-45 engine tests and South African Hawk tests. He said one of the most significant accomplishments of the test team was the development of simulated and actual engine-out landing procedures, which mitigated the risk of performing single engine airstart and engine compatibility tests over water with only field runways available for landing.

Feldman said the team also created learning opportunities for several junior engineers.

“As part of the HSRIP team, junior engineers were given first-hand experience in the conduct of high-risk flight test,” said Feldman. “Two junior engineers qualified as safety-of-flight glide monitors, while two contract and two government engineers were trained as test conductors.”

Feldman said the team recognized the need for continued training opportunities, so team members are working with senior engineers and test pilots who have volunteered to develop a series of weekly training lectures. Several lectures have already been presented covering various topics such as Aircraft Basics, Pitot Statics, Test Execution, Mission Planning, Test Techniques, Airspace Rules, NATOPS Flight Manual and Fleet Operations. The training will culminate in a simulation exercise followed by a telemetered T-45 flights.

The T-45 HSRIP Flight Test Team name will be added to the list of past recipients of the James S. McDonnell Flight Test Team trophy, which includes the EA-18G “Growler” and F-16 E/F Block 60 Flight test teams. The trophy will eventually be on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Annex at Washington-Dulles International Airport.

“To be recognized internationally for our efforts on the HSRIP engine flight test program is a great honor,” said McAteer. “The SFTE is made up of our peers and nothing is more rewarding than having those who know the most about flight testing recognize the challenges we overcame in order to safely test a new engine in a single engine aircraft.”

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