# Presentation: 202940

## WC-130J SFMRA success story in transitioning research to operations

- The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned

## Slide 2

## Bridging the gap through the valley of death (It can be done)
25yr process from concept to reality
The credit in making this happen
Rep. C. W “Bill” Young (R-FL)
Doug Gregory, DOD appropriations Subcommittee staff
Greg Lanker, DOD appropriations Subcommittee staff
Harry Glen, Chief of Staff to Rep Young
Prof Calvin Swift, UMASS – inventor of SFMR, Quadrant engineering
Max Mayfield, Director NHC (retired),  (“The SFMR will be the biggest advance I can think of to improve hurricane intensity forecasts”)
Sam Williamson/Bob Dumont, OFCM -   prototype funding 2002
Pete Black HRD – concept, funding justification
Eric Uhlhorn HRD - Algorithm development
James Franklin, NHC -  Statement of need

- 25yr process from concept to reality
- The credit in making this happen
- Rep. C. W “Bill” Young (R-FL)
- Doug Gregory, DOD appropriations Subcommittee staff
- Greg Lanker, DOD appropriations Subcommittee staff
- Harry Glen, Chief of Staff to Rep Young
- Prof Calvin Swift, UMASS – inventor of SFMR, Quadrant engineering
- Max Mayfield, Director NHC (retired),  (“The SFMR will be the biggest advance I can think of to improve hurricane intensity forecasts”)
- Sam Williamson/Bob Dumont, OFCM -   prototype funding 2002
- Pete Black HRD – concept, funding justification
- Eric Uhlhorn HRD - Algorithm development
- James Franklin, NHC -  Statement of need

## Alan Goldstein, AOC – Aircraft engineer/software design
Ivan Popstefania, Pro Sensing – Builders of unit
Col Mark Weadon, USAF NOAA liaison  (Retired)
Louanne Powell, AFRC – WC-130J program manager
Captain Garner Yates- NOAA Corps
Scott Carter, (Former NOAA legislative affairs) figured out the puzzle palace and made the money happen
And many more

- Ivan Popstefania, Pro Sensing – Builders of unit
- Col Mark Weadon, USAF NOAA liaison  (Retired)
- Louanne Powell, AFRC – WC-130J program manager
- Captain Garner Yates- NOAA Corps
- Scott Carter, (Former NOAA legislative affairs) figured out the puzzle palace and made the money happen
- And many more

## History
SFMR successfully employed on NOAA P-3
Supplemental plus up of $10M added for WC-130 SFMR procurement after 2004 Hurricane Season
No action taken by AF SPO until late 2005
Design and implementation begun by Lockheed Martin early 2006
Critical design review completed in May 06
First test article installed in Fall 06
Calibration and test flight competed in Fall 06
Operational installation begins March 07

- SFMR successfully employed on NOAA P-3
- Supplemental plus up of $10M added for WC-130 SFMR procurement after 2004 Hurricane Season
- No action taken by AF SPO until late 2005
- Design and implementation begun by Lockheed Martin early 2006
- Critical design review completed in May 06
- First test article installed in Fall 06
- Calibration and test flight competed in Fall 06
- Operational installation begins March 07

## First test unit with Lockheed Martin designed pod, flown in Oct/Nov 06

## Slide 7

## Minimal drag index and low profile, attaches to existing wing hard points

## Slide 9

## Slide 10

## Slide 11

## Slide 12

## Slide 13

## First flight, 27 October 2006 from Lockheed Martin, Marietta
Instrument Calibration in near zero wind conditions (Bouy 41002)
Verified initial calibration curve close to optimal
Cal data obtained from 500ft to 30,000ft
Pro Sensing computed new calibration curves and uploaded for demonstration flight

- Instrument Calibration in near zero wind conditions (Bouy 41002)
- Verified initial calibration curve close to optimal
- Cal data obtained from 500ft to 30,000ft
- Pro Sensing computed new calibration curves and uploaded for demonstration flight

## Demonstration flight 3 Nov 06 Buoy 41002
Verified calibration constants were valid
Flown in wind conditions of 15-25kts (Challenge)
Verified correct software implementation and message generation from 500 to 30,000ft
In situ buoy winds were used to verify SFMR derived winds
Instrument provided expected results in less than perfect conditions (Low wind speeds)
Unexpected result: Unit provided reasonable wind speeds to 
    300 mb level (slight low bias)

Overall results
AF test center engineers verified test results independently from Pro Sensing
Calibration curves verified accurate from 1,500ft to 10,00ft
Slight overestimation (~5kts) below 1,500ft due to added signal from aircraft
Slight underestimation (~5-10kts) above 15,000ft due to possible much larger field of view and signal scattering
A few software bugs noted which will be fixed for operational implementation 

- Verified calibration constants were valid
- Flown in wind conditions of 15-25kts (Challenge)
- Verified correct software implementation and message generation from 500 to 30,000ft
- In situ buoy winds were used to verify SFMR derived winds
- Instrument provided expected results in less than perfect conditions (Low wind speeds)
- Unexpected result: Unit provided reasonable wind speeds to
-     300 mb level (slight low bias)
- Overall results
- AF test center engineers verified test results independently from Pro Sensing
- Calibration curves verified accurate from 1,500ft to 10,00ft
- Slight overestimation (~5kts) below 1,500ft due to added signal from aircraft
- Slight underestimation (~5-10kts) above 15,000ft due to possible much larger field of view and signal scattering
- A few software bugs noted which will be fixed for operational implementation

## 5000ft, Buoy wind speeds 20kts, SFMR 15-25kts within 30nm of buoy due to gusty conditions

- 1,500ft

## Slide 17

## Roadmap
First Operational airplane delivery scheduled for May 07, flyable late May
One airplane/month following
4-5 available during Aug-Oct 07
All 10 mods complete March 08
Only 8-9 aircraft available at any given time for 07 season

- First Operational airplane delivery scheduled for May 07, flyable late May
- One airplane/month following
- 4-5 available during Aug-Oct 07
- All 10 mods complete March 08
- Only 8-9 aircraft available at any given time for 07 season

## Slide 19