Calspan To Provide Variable Stability System For Blackhawk Helicopter

Calspan Aerospace has won a $1.57 million contract from the US Navy to provide a next-generation Variable Stability System (VSS) for a US Naval Test Pilot School's UH-60L Blackhawk helicopter.

The US Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) trains engineering test pilots, flight test officers, and flight test engineers to conduct test and evaluation at the Aircraft Division of the Naval Air Warfare Center. Graduating students use this expertise to work on aircraft and weapons systems, conduct flight tests and manage the introduction of new assets to the fleet.

The project involves the design, fabrication, and installation of a sensor suite, fly-by-wire VSS computer system, pilot and aircraft interfaces, safety trip and data recording systems on the UH-60L Blackhawk Helicopter.

The modified aircraft will be used to expose students at the school to a myriad of helicopter handling quality characteristics, bringing classroom academics to life using a single airframe.

The project is set to be conducted over the next six months at the Calspan Aerospace headquarters in Niagara Falls, New York. The helicopter will become the third-generation variable stability H-60 to be used in the school's training programs.

Calspan Aerospace operates its flight research and testing business at the Niagara Falls International Airport, in an 80,000 sq. ft. facility.