LORD Completes Delivery of Improved Vibration Control Systems For Chinook Choppers

LORD Corporation has completed delivery of the first production orders of its Improved Vibration Control System (IVCS) to Boeing for the CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

LORD has an agreement with Boeing through 2019 to support Boeing CH-47 production activities in Philadelphia, Pa. LORD will provide IVCS System components of the state-of-the-art patented system that controls steady state and transient vibration as part of the CH-47 standard configuration for the remainder of the U.S. Government Multi-Year II (MYII) effort.

According to Stuart Hartwell, business development manager for LORD Global Aerospace & Defense, this delivery milestone for the twin-engine tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter represents a major step in bringing significant weight savings to the CH-47 platform.

The IVCS technology uses accelerometers that measure aircraft vibration levels. A centralized computer processes these signals through a software algorithm that interprets the data and sends commands to force generators located under the pilot seats. These force generators create “anti-vibration” that stops the progression of vibration due to the main rotor, and creates a more comfortable vibration environment for the aircrew. The LORD product is a direct/drop-in replacement for the previously used passive tuned vibration absorber. According to Mike Janowski, Manager of Electromechanical Design at LORD, the IVCS is easily installed using existing mounts on the Chinook aircraft and outperforms the legacy system.

According to LORD Corporation’s Jim Nietupski, Customer Executive, the pursuit of this initiative from LORD began in 2004 with the idea of replacing passive tuned vibration absorbers under the pilot’s seat with a new technology that would save weight and enhance performance. After a flight demonstration of the product, which began in 2008 with the Mississippi Army National Guard, and after several years of continued testing with the assistance of the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Regiment, the Army decided to pursue a program and selected Boeing to serve as the integrator of this technology.

Throughout its development, the Chinook aircraft has evolved with new technology insertion and gained new capability. This IVCS technology insertion offers a triple-digit weight savings benefit, which creates a performance buy-back for CH-47 Operators. LORD Corporation’s system will now be part of the baseline configuration moving forward in 2016, fielded CH-47Fs, and Foreign Military Sales’ H-47 aircraft.

First production aircraft delivery with the system installed is expected late 2016.