X-Plane_System_Requirements.pdf

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

System Requirements Definition for Promising X-Plane Concepts Supporting the Ultra Efficient Subsonic Transport Thrust

NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center

June 13, 2016

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Armstrong Flight Research Center Edwards, California

X-Plane System Requirements Definition Revision Base

Table of Contents

I. Background ………………………………………………... 2

II. Program Objectives ………………………………………… 3

III. Contract Objectives ………………………………………… 4

IV. Program Management Objectives ………………………….. 5

I. Background

In alignment with the NASA Strategic Implementation Plan, and the Ultra Efficient Subsonic Transport Thrust, NASA has been conducting research that identified and matured promising technology and aircraft configurations to reduce the impact of aviation on the environment.

For the purposes of this contract, “vision systems” are future, conceptual, advanced aircraft concepts suitable for operation in the air transportation system. Promising vision systems and enabling technologies that address previously stated NASA N+2 and N+3 Subsonic Transport System Level Metrics for community noise, landing-takeoff oxides of nitrogen, and mission fuel burn or energy usage have also been researched. Overlap between civil use and military use of hybrid wing body configurations has been established with DoD/AFRL, resulting in dual use potential, especially in the cargo or freighter market segment.

Recently, NASA has developed updates to the NASA Strategic Implementation Plan to address the Ultra Efficient Subsonic Transport Thrust. Community outcomes, and updated Subsonic Transport System Level Metrics for three epochs have been developed and broadly communicated.

The associated Community Outcomes are shown below.

The updated Subsonic Transport System Level Metric Table is shown below.

In summary, NASA seeks to further develop technology with industry and other government partners that enables revolutionary and transformational transport aircraft to simultaneously reduce the fleet-level carbon footprint of aviation by at least 50 percent, and reduce perceived community noise levels by one half, while significantly reducing landing-take off NOx emissions around airports.

II. Program Objectives

NASA is currently investigating the utilization of X-Planes to further mature promising and previously studied technologies and configurations that will require flight to further advance readiness.

The objective of this requirement is to assist NASA in defining the technical approach, schedule, and cost for proceeding with potential X-plane procurement(s) that support the Ultra Efficient Subsonic Transport Thrust and accomplishment of Mid- and Far-Term Community Outcomes stated above.

For the purposes of this contract, the potential X-planes can be described as either Integrated or Purpose Built. Integrated X-planes will be designed and flown to demonstrate the impact of a suite of integrated technologies at the aircraft system level. Purpose-built X-planes will be designed and flown to demonstrate the isolated impact of a specific multi-disciplinary technology.

To assist NASA in the X-plane system requirements development the contractor shall provide a detailed description of preferred vision system(s) that meet or exceed the mid-term NASA Subsonic Transport System Level Metrics stated above. As NASA may be interested in partnering with other government agencies, and to exploit the potential of dual-use research objectives, described vision systems may address either civil and/or military missions. Stated improvements of vision systems shall be compared to well established reference missions. References and supporting documentation shall be provided.

The contractor shall describe the technology maturation plan to enable the vision system. As part of the technology maturation plan, the contractor shall describe ground and flight test requirements needed to enable the vision system. The need and justification for an X-plane test asset shall be clearly described. Scale, complexity, and developmental readiness of the X-plane test asset shall be described.

The contractor shall describe previous flight test and X-Plane experiences and lessons learned, and describe how these experiences will enable favorable cost/benefit for NASA and its potential government partners.

III. Contract Objectives

The objective of this requirement is to provide NASA assistance in development of the potential X-plane system requirements.

Required X-plane(s) will comply with the following mission concept(s):

1. Be a manned X-plane capable of sustained 2 to 3 hour, powered transonic flight consistent with envisioned operations of future vision system(s) in the national air transportation system.

2. The X-plane will be flown from NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center. Alternate sites for future operational opportunities may be identified.

3. The first flight of the X-Plane will occur NLT than calendar year 2021.

4. The initial flight research program should be conducted within a 12-month period after first flight.

5. The X-plane will be capable of at least two research flights per week.

6. The X-plane will be designed to have an operational life of 500 to 1000 hours.

At a minimum, the contractor shall provide:

1. System requirements for X-plane concept(s) consistent with the vision systems and mission concepts described above that provides research data that supports future development of the preferred vision system(s).

2. Definition of the initial, 12 month long, X-plane research program, beyond first flight milestone, but including envelope expansion.

a. The initial 12-month X-plane research program to provide the necessary data to substantiate the buy down of risk for the vision system will be defined.

b. Instrumentation and data measurement requirements for the X-Plane will be defined.

c. Identification of uncertainty in the design of the vision system(s) will be described, and the reduction of uncertainty through the conduct of the X-plane research program will be defined.

IV. Program Management Objectives

1. System requirements for the proposed x-plane shall be defined and iterated with the Government.

a. Two requirement definition cycles will occur, culminating in a final system requirements review, and will include interaction with the government team.

b. The mid-term system requirements review will occur at AFRC 4 months after contract award.

c. The final system requirements review will occur at the contractor’s facility within 6 months after contract award.

d. A system requirements document shall be provided at contract end.

2. Contractor shall provide a detailed plan as to how it plans to manage the program schedule, quality control, performance and risk. The contractor’s program management plan should include:

a. A technical maturation and data base development activities in support of the X-plane program shall be described. Proposed use of NASA facilities (if required) shall be described.

b. Risks and risk-mitigation plans for the entire X-plane program.

c. Risk-infused cost estimates for the entire X-plane program.

d. Risk-infused schedule estimates for the entire X-plane program.

e. The transition plan for the matured technologies and the vision system will be described. Benefit to the flying public in terms of Community Outcomes and System Level Metrics discussed above shall be described.

f. Partnership & Intellectual Property strategy for the entire X-plane program will be described.

g. The information requested in this section will be reviewed with the government team at the 4-month review, and again at the 6-month review.

h. A final document(s) containing all requested information in this section shall be provided at contract end.

REVISIONS

Revision Number Date Brief Summary of Changes

Base 30 Jun 2016