Flight Testing Graduate Course Exercise at Naval Air Station Luni
On May 22-23, Flight Testing students were involved in an intense exercise at Naval Air Station Luni, home to the Aeronaval Experimental Center (CSA, Centro Sperimentale Aeromarittimo) of the Italian Navy. The exercise consisted in flight tests for Handling Qualities evaluation on the full mission flight simulator of the EH-101 ASW/ASuW helicopter. Students acted as Flight Test Engineers responsible for each test mission, flying alongside an expert test pilot.
The students, arranged in two-person teams, planned the tests and, after briefing with CSA Experimental Test Pilot C.C. Andrea Pingitore and CSA Flight Test Engineer C.C. Domenico Vinci, performed their missions sitting in the cockpit and in the control room in turns, gathering relevant data. Post-processing was performed immediately after the simulator sessions. Helicopter capabilities and limitations were explored in a wide range of static and dynamic stability and control tests. The activity ended with a thorough presentation and discussion of test results in front of PoliMI teaching staff and CSA experts. Well done!
A grateful thank you goes to the Italian Navy, the awesome CSA staff and to the Maristaeli Luni personnel, especially CSA commanding officer C.F. Andrea Scopa and base commander C.V. Paolo Bindi. Their willingness brought us a wonderful educational opportunity!
