Masters students at the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, Calif., have been tackling a peculiar flight anomaly of the C-12 Huron as a final challenge in their year-long degree program. “As students go through TPS, they learn the theory of how and why an aircraft behaves in a certain way,” said Karl Major, a civilian C-12 test pilot at Edwards. Investigating why rudder resistance on the C-12 deteriorates in a sustained side slip, the students are employing the theoretical knowledge and techniques to a real-world problem. “Safety of the C-12 rudder was never in doubt, but it is certainly an interesting characteristic,” explained Capt. Chris Baughman, TPS C-12 project manager. Flying in various configurations, students have filmed rudder airflow as indicated by yarn-tufts across the C-12’s skin from a chase plan, compiling data for analysis. They are expected to present their findings in May before their June graduation. (Edwards report by Laura Mowry)
The U.K. and the U.S. will continue to enjoy access to the ports, airfield, and workshops at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for at least another century, under a deal inked between the U.K. and Mauritius May 22.