Pave Hawk team gives test at Edwards a shot

  • Published
  • By Jet Fabara
  • 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The Gun Harmonizing Range is one of the base's many unique test assets and landmarks that always causes flightline drivers to do a double-take due to its Aztec pyramid-looking shape.

In February, it became the center of attention, literally, as two units, the 96th Test Wing and the 412th Test Wing, partnered up to provide the 413th Flight Test Squadron, Detachment 1 a location for their test team to accomplish baseline ballistics testing with their HH-60G Pave Hawk GAU-18 .50 caliber machine gun.

"The GAU 18 baseline ballistic dispersion test is a component of the overall GAU-21 test program," said 2nd Lt. Troy Mobley, 413th FLTS, Det. 1 flight test engineer. "We needed to have a baseline for the GAU-18 dispersion, so we could prove whether the GAU-21 [machine gun] is an improvement or not."

According to Steve Salas, 412th TW Global Reach Combined Test Force project manager, the objective of this test effort was to baseline the ballistic dispersion of the GAU-18 .50 caliber machine gun mounted to the HH-60G via the External Gun Mount System (EGMS) and to collect barrel temperatures during firing.

During the five-day test process, the team examined gun barrel temperatures with special instrumentation equipment, examined the movement of the gun and mount by using high speed video, and dispersion patterns of the rounds against canvas targets, according to Salas.

"When we get back to Nellis AFB, [Nev.], we'll be taking the canvas' [targets] we shot at and calculate the dispersion," said Mobley. "It will then be used so crew members can determine accuracy."

Located out of the Nellis AFB, the 413th FLTS, Det. 1 team also noted that it decided on Edwards due to its proximity to Nellis and having a range that could accommodate their test needs.

"This is the first time in recent memory that we've done an HH-60 test including a statement of capability between the 412th TW and 96th TW," said Maj. Maggie Sullivan, 413th FLTS, Det. 1, test director. "I think there was a lot of education on both sides, but overall, it was a positive experience."

"Testing went extremely well. Anytime you have a new aircraft and put new team members together, there is a huge learning curve," added Salas. "Testing was completed early through a great cooperative effort."

According to Salas, the results of this test will be analyzed and be used as a baseline for the GAU-21 testing coming this fall.

The 413th FLTS, Det. 1 at Nellis AFB is part of the Combat Search and Rescue Combined Test Force, along with the 88th Test and Evaluation Squadron and the 28th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Operating Location-A. The CSAR CTF is responsible for developmental and operational testing on the "CSAR triad" of USAF Personnel Recovery weapons platforms: the HH-60G Pave Hawk, the HC-130J Combat King II, and Guardian Angel, the equipment-based human weapon system for CSAR. The HH-60G is a highly modified U.S. Army UH-60L Blackhawk turned into the USAF Pave Hawk.