10 Naval Aviation News September–October 2000

NAVAL FORCE AIRCRAFT TEST SQUADRON:

25 YEARS OF TEST &EVALUATION EXCELLENCE

On 1 April 2000, the Naval Force Aircraft TestSquadron celebrated its 25th anniversary. Thefollowing is a tribute to the countless contributionsthat its dedicated personnel have made to NavalAviation over the last quarter century.

As part of the Naval Air Warfare CenterAircraft Division aboard Naval AirStation Patuxent River in southern

Maryland, the Naval Force Aircraft TestSquadron, or “Force,” is one of the Navy’s

premier aircraft developmental test andevaluation squadrons. Force is responsible forthe test and evaluation of aircraft, systems,avionics and software for fixed wingantisubmarine, sea control, airborne earlywarning, intelligence collection, command andcontrol, tanker, carrier-onboard-delivery,trainer, utility and support aircraft. In thiscapacity, the squadron has ongoing flight testprojects with numerous aircraft, including theP-3 Orion, S-3 Viking, E-2 Hawkeye, EP-3

By Lt. Sean G. Owens

Naval Aviation News September–October 2000 11

Aries II, E-6 Mercury, KC-130 Hercules, C-2Greyhound, T-6 Texan, T-34C Turbo-Mentor,C-12 Huron and the new C-26.

Before introduction to the fleet, new aircraftand aircraft systems must be tested to ensuremaximum mission effectiveness, reliabilityand safety. Aircraft and aircraft systems aretested and evaluated throughout a variety of

flight regimes by Force test pilots, naval flightofficers and aircrewmen. Test articles arerefined as they complete various phases ofdevelopmental testing. Upon successfulcompletion, aircraft and systems proceed tooperational testing, where they are put throughthe paces in an operational environment priorto fleet introduction.

An EP-3 Aries II conducts test and evaluation for the Sensor System Improvement Programdesigned to enhance interservice and fleet communications. Photo by Vernon Pugh

In order to meet the demands ofthe flight test environment, Forcecalls upon the expertise of a uniquecombination of professionals.Officer and enlisted personnel fromvarious aviation communitieswork closely with governmentservice and contractor personnelin such fields as test andevaluation engineering, logisticsand maintenance.

Force traces its roots to theestablishment of NAS PatuxentRiver, Md., on 1 April 1943. TheNavy recognized the need toconsolidate its flight test efforts,and the location was chosen dueto its proximity to the coast, sea-level salt air environment,freedom from air traffic congestion,and isolation for testing of classifiedprojects. Pax River’s future as a testfacility was cemented by theformation of the Naval Air TestCenter (NATC) on 16 June 1945.

In 1975, a sweepingreorganization prepared NATC forits role as the Naval Air Systems

Command’s principal site fordevelopmental testing. Several newdirectorates were formed to evaluateaircraft by type and mission. Underthe direction of Officer in Charge

Captain John A. Dunaway, theAntisubmarine Warfare TestDirectorate was tasked to supportthe fleet through the flight test andevaluation of aircraft systems forpatrol, air antisubmarine, carrierairborne early warning, fleet airreconnaissance, fleet tactical supportand training squadrons. To moreclosely identify itself with thecommunities to which it wasresponsible, the directorate wasrenamed Force Warfare Aircraft TestDirectorate in June 1986. In May

12 Naval Aviation News September–October 2000

Above, Force’s T-34C(foreground), the secondproduction Turbo-Mentor, flies in forma-tion with the JointPrimary Aircraft TrainingSystem’s secondproduction T-6A Texan II.Right, the KC-130JHercules is being testedfor Marine Corps use.

continued on page 14

Naval Aviation News September–October 2000 13

Above, a P-3C Orion fires a Standoff Land Attack Missile. Below, the new eight-bladed propellers onthe E-2 Hawkeye 2000 are easier to maintain than current four-bladed props. The digitally controlled,all-composite NP2000 propeller system will reduce noise and enhance efficiency.

Photos pages 12–13 by Vernon Pugh

1995, the organization officiallybecame the Naval Force AircraftTest Squadron under the commandof Capt. Stuart A. Ashton, Jr.

Since its inception, Force hasbeen instrumental in theadvancement of aircraft technologyand its integration into fleet assets.These new capabilities delivered tothe fleet mean greater safety foraircrews and enhanced missioneffectiveness. Force has been

responsible for the test andevaluation of many new aircraftbefore their fleet introduction,including the E-6A, UC-12, T-44AKing Air and ES-3 Shadow. Test andevaluation of major aircraftmodifications have included the P-3Updates I, II and III; E-2/C-2 T56-A-427 engine upgrade; E-6Bairborne command postmodification; and the T-34 NavalAircraft Collision Warning System.

Today, ongoing test programsinclude the E-2 Hawkeye 2000 andeight-bladed propeller upgrades; theP-3 Anti-Surface Warfare

14 Naval Aviation News September–October 2000

C o m m a n d i n g O f f i c e r s

Capt. John A. Dunaway April 1975–October 1977Capt. Arvid E. Forsman October 1977–October 1980Capt. Wayne A. Putman October 1980–August 1984Capt. Vincent P. Merz August 1984–August 1988Capt. William T. Broadhurst August 1988–July 1991Capt. James D. Keen July 1991–August 1992Cdr. George C. Hill August 1992–September 1994Capt. Stuart A. Ashton, Jr September 1994–April 1996Cdr. Bruce D. Remick April 1996–March 1998Capt. Walter M. Skinner March 1998–December 1998Capt. J B Hollyer December 1998–present

Photos by Vernon Pugh

Naval Aviation News September–October 2000 15

Improvement Program and OceanWater Laser Detection and Ranging;the S-3 Standoff Land AttackMissile Extended Range and DigitalFlight Data Computer; T-6A JointPrimary Aircraft Training Systemaircraft; and the KC-130J.

For the past 25 years, Force hasbeen intimately involved indevelopmental testing of futureaircraft technologies and

modifications. As Naval Aviationenters a new millennium, thesquadron will continue to ensurethat the fleet receives safe andreliable aircraft and systems.

Lt. Owens is communications officer of theNaval Force Aircraft Test Squadron.

Opposite page, top, a Norwegian P-3COrion sprays chaff while testing a newflare system; bottom, a Force Mercurytests the E-6B airborne command postmodification. This page, ongoingForce flight test projects areconducted with S-3 Viking (top) andEP-3 Aries II aircraft. Inset, Forcepersonnel pose in front of thesquadron’s hangar.

Kur

t Le

ngfie

ld

Christine King