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position measurement system, incident and

re ected solar radiation systems, weather

radar, video recording suite, laser particle

spectrometers, electro-optic and infrared

sensors systems, and a satellite simulator.

The aircraft has been used with

hyperspectral visible and shortwave infrared

sensor systems to evaluate the health of

vegetation and carbon sequestration over

terrain as far a eld as Costa Rica.

The NRC’s latest addition is its Extra

300L, a two-seat, aerobatic-certi ed aircraft.

It is mainly used for skills training, but also

employed as a test bed for unmanned air

systems; including those  ying in high-g

environments. The type can withstand 10g

and other extreme conditions.

ROTARY

There are three helicopters in the NRC

research  eet: a Bell 205, 206 JetRanger

and a 412. The JetRanger is mainly used

as a night vision goggle test platform and

pilot training vehicle, while the 205 and

412 undertake varied research roles. For

example, the 205 serves as a 4DOF

(degrees of freedom) simulator for other

aircraft types. This is why it has two control

systems; one for the safety pilot using the

aircraft’s standard controls and the second

for a test pilot checking out a range of  y-by-

wire systems.

Kris Ellis explained: “We can use the

205 to simulate the handling characteristics

of everything from another Bell model or a

Sikorsky, a STOL  xed-wing aircraft, right up

to a Moon lander.”

This helicopter includes a number of  at

panel displays, and other modern avionics

capabilities not found on the original Huey.

It has also  own missions testing airborne

collision avoidance systems, triggered by

having the NRC’s Harvard  y directly at

the 205. “Our instruments can also display

symbology used by military helicopters, to

maintain situational awareness and stability

during recirculating sand conditions known

as ‘brownout’,” Ellis stated.

The Bell 412 serves as a more modern

alternative to the 205, with one operating in

test mode while the other is being con gured

for its next research mission. It also has two

separate control systems, like the 205.

The NRC explains the “Bell 412 Advanced

Systems Research Aircraft (ASRA) is

out tted with advanced technology that

makes it an ideal platform for research into

digital  y-by-wire control systems, precise

guidance and navigation, and active control

system.” It “allows researchers to investigate

the impact on situational awareness, safety

and mission performance of new control,

guidance, navigation and communication

technologies. The aircraft also serves to test

advanced pilot-vehicle interfaces, such as

smart displays, helmet-mounted displays,

synthetic vision systems, integrated hand

controllers, and direct voice input.”

Ellis added: “The 412 has been upgraded

to include FADEC [full authority digital

engine control] and a glass cockpit.” When

seen by the author in the NRC FRL hangar

the helicopter had a computer workstation

mounted on the left side of the cabin to

allow for in- ight data monitoring and

instrument control.

To keep its vintage  eet  ying, speci c

mechanics have been assigned to take

care of each aircraft. Angela Gagnon

is crew chief for the Twin Otter, but her

biggest challenge is  nding sufficient parts

to keep the research  eet’s other aircraft

operational. “It depends on the bird,”

Gagnon explained. “The Twin Otter is not

that bad; she’s pretty easy to get parts

for. The Harvard used to be okay, but it’s

starting to get challenging because the

parts stores have dried up. It’s getting to

the point that you have to ‘know somebody’

to  nd the parts you need.”

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 67

NRC’s Bell 205 can be con gured to  y like other models of helicopters

for test purposes; even handling like a Moon lander! NRC

64-68_nrc_canadaDC.mfDC.indd 67 03/07/2018 10:53