LBFD T-38 Canopy Hardware Overhaul SOW.pdf

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Edwards, CA 93523-0273

Low Boom Flight

Demonstrator

Crew Systems:

T-38 Canopy Hardware

Inspection and

Refurbishment

Statement of Work

(SOW)

Release: October 07, 2019

Table of Contents

1.0 Background

1.1 LBFD Project

1.2 T-38 Crew Station

2.0 Objectives

3.0 Scope

4.0 Requirements

4.1 Hardware Inspection & Refurbishment:

4.2 Hardware Delivery:

4.3 Periodic Meetings:

5.0 Deliverables

6.0 Government Furnished Equipment/Information

7.0 Travel

8.0 Place of Performance

9.0 Period of Performance

10.0 Special Requirements

1.0 Background

1.1 LBFD Project

Under NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate’s (ARMD’s) Advanced Air Vehicles Program (AAVP), the Commercial Supersonic Technology (CST) Project has conducted concept feasibility studies and project planning for a Low Boom Flight Demonstrator (LBFD) aircraft that would provide final validation of design tools and technologies applicable to low sonic boom aircraft and create a database of community response acceptability data supporting the development of a noise-based standard for supersonic overland flight. NASA has refined a set of LBFD aircraft capabilities required to conduct effective community response acceptability studies. The LBFD objectives would be accomplished through the design, construction, and flight validation of a sub-scale research aircraft that creates a shaped sonic boom signature with a calculated loudness level of 75 PLdB (Perceived Level (PL), dB) or less during supersonic cruise (Mach ≥ 1.4) flight. Although the aircraft will be smaller in size than future supersonic airliners, its sonic boom ground signature will be traceable to that of the larger aircraft. The LBFD aircraft would be capable of performing multiple supersonic overflights of a single community with passes that are nominally 50 miles in length, and up to 20 minutes apart on a single flight. The LBFD concept vehicle is shown below in Figures 1 & 2.

Figure 1. Conceptual design of the LBFD aircraft

Figure 2. 3-View drawing of the LBFD Plane

The LBFD Project will be implemented under NASA ARMD’s Integrated Aviation Systems

Program (IASP). The LBFD Project is envisioned as two distinct phases, with a third phase envisioned as a follow-on project. Phase 1 includes the LBFD aircraft development activities from design through fabrication, concluding with functional checkouts and supersonic envelope expansion. NASA plans to select a Vehicle Contractor to design and deliver the LBFD aircraft that will be flown in Phases 2 and 3 described below. NASA will retain oversight of the airworthiness certification and anticipates being a significant participant in Phase 1.

In Phase 2, a NASA-led team will perform low-boom acoustic validation flights of the LBFD aircraft. These flights will be conducted from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) and will thoroughly characterize and evaluate the near-field, mid-field, far-field, and ground signatures from the LBFD aircraft. This characterization will include the effects of changing atmospheric and aircraft flight conditions. Phase 2 will conclude with an initial community response acceptability overflight study involving communities near AFRC.

For Phase 3, a NASA-led team will conduct low-boom community response acceptability overflight studies with multiple test campaigns using the LBFD aircraft over varied locations across the United States. The ultimate goal of Phase 3 will be to develop a low-boom community response acceptability database that will be provided to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Committee on

Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) in support of their development of a noise-based standard to allow for commercial supersonic overland flight.

1.2 T-38 Crew Station

NASA selected a team led by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company of Palmdale, California, to build the LBFD aircraft. In an attempt to reduce cost to the government, NASA will make all efforts to provide Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) in support of the LBFD aircraft. The current crew station concept is an aft crew station from a T-38 aircraft. This concept incorporates the T-38 canopy rail and transparency and associated canopy mechanisms, as well as the Martin-Baker MK16 aft ejection seat, modified for use without a front crew station.

NASA wants to minimize changes to the implementation of the T-38 aft crew station into the

LBFD aircraft thereby minimizing ground test costs. NASA AFRC is expected to issue an

Airworthiness Certificate to the LBFD aircraft based on both a hazard assessment of the aircraft operations and compliance with a set of airworthiness certification standards, which are acceptable to the Armstrong Airworthiness and Flight Safety Review Board (AFSRB). The LBFD project requires contractor assistance for the inspection, refurbishment, and airworthiness qualification of the associated hardware sourced from available donor T-38 aircraft located at

NASA AFRC

2.0 Objectives

NASA requires the Contractor to ensure the canopy frame assembly, mechanism and all associated hardware is inspected, refurbished, and certified as serviceable with associated documentation, and delivered for the integration and reuse in the LBFD aircraft.

3.0 Scope

The requirements of this Statement of Work (SOW) consist of inspection and refurbishment, and the delivery of serviceable hardware to the destination specified by NASA. The hardware includes, but is not strictly limited to, the entire canopy and frame assembly; hinge supports;

drive mechanisms; downlocks; internal and external operating handles; limit switch; canopy jettison system components; and original T-38 seat rails. Also required will be telecons, face-to-face meetings, and coordination and planning activities with both NASA and Lockheed Martin in order to fulfil the requirements of this SOW.

4.0 Requirements

4.1 Hardware Inspection & Refurbishment:

The Contractor shall inspect, refurbish, and certify as serviceable for reuse, the canopy frame assembly, drive mechanism and all additionally provided associated hardware.

These activities shall be performed at a location designated by the Contractor that has the required facilities to perform required actions.

4.1.1 The Contractor shall perform dimensional checks, visual and non-destructive inspections in accordance with applicable Original Equipment

Manufacturer and/or USAF Technical Orders to ensure compliance with in-service limits, tolerances, and inspection criteria. The Contractor shall provide a report documenting the results of these actions.

4.1.2 The Contractor shall refurbish all hardware, repairing and replacing worn components as required. The refurbishment shall include the replacement of the canopy transparency and seal to be provided by

NASA. If Northrop specific components and hardware exceed service limit dimensions or conditions and require external sourcing, NASA will provide a materials line item enabling the Contractor to source these items. The Contractor shall contact NASA for approval prior to sourcing any parts on this line item. NASA Quality Assurance procedures for purchasing of aircraft parts shall be applicable.

4.1.3 The Contractor shall provide complete documentation of all repairs and replacements performed.

4.1.4 The Contractor shall prime and paint completed refurbished assemblies as required prior to delivery. Canopy frame external surface primer /paint specifications will be provided by NASA.

4.1.5 For all completed assemblies, the Contractor shall provide serviceability tags, or Contractor equivalent, stating that the hardware is in the most current configuration and serviceable.

4.2 Hardware Delivery:

The Contractor shall deliver all hardware after the completion of the requirements in

4.1, to a delivery location specified by NASA. The deliveries can be phased if desired, however all hardware must be received and accepted by NASA no later than (NLT) the date listed in Section 5.0 below.

4.2.1 The Contractor shall, for each separate delivery of hardware, coordinate with NASA on the delivery location and time to facilitate the receival and acceptance process.

4.2.2 For each separate hardware delivery, the hardware shall be appropriately identified and tagged. Included shall be certificates of conformance, and any other related documentation.

4.3 Periodic Meetings:

The Contractor shall support periodic telecons and email correspondence to discuss the status of the work described above not fewer than twice per calendar month. Support means developing the agendas (pre-coordinated with NASA), and bringing status charts as well as other data/technical charts discussed during the meetings per the agenda requirements.

5.0 Deliverables

The Contractor shall deliver the following, in formats noted, to NASA Armstrong and LBFD

Project:

Deliverable Reference Paragraph

Format Due Date

Required repairs and replacement list

4.1.1 PDF & MS

Excel

2 weeks after hardware delivery to Contractor, NLT March 30th, 2020

Repairs and replacements performed documentation

4.1.3 Contractor

standards and format & PDF

NLT hardware delivery

Serviceability or equivalents

4.1.5 PDF NLT hardware delivery

Hardware delivery documentation

4.2.2 PDF NLT April 31st, 2020

6.0 Government Furnished Equipment/Information

NASA shall provide all donor T-38 hardware for refurbishment.

NASA shall provide the replacement canopy transparency, Part Number (P/N) 2-13300-35

NASA shall provide the replacement canopy seal, Part Number (P/N) S10485-5

7.0 Travel

NASA will travel to the Contractor facility for inspection and acceptance prior to hardware delivery.

8.0 Place of Performance

Performance will be at the identified contractor’s facilities.

9.0 Period of Performance

The period of performance shall be from date of award to June 1st, 2020.

10.0 Special Requirements

N/A