Introduction of an Individual Aircraft Tracking Program for the Polish SU-22

Abstract

Abstract The Su-22 fighter-bomber is a military aircraft used in the Polish Air Force (PLAF) since the mid 1980’s. By decision of the Ministry of National Defence Republic of Poland, the assumed service life for this type of aircraft was prolonged up to 3200 flight hours based on the Full Scale Fatigue Test (FSFT) results. The FSFT was conducted using the real load profile defined during the Operational Load Monitoring Program (OLM) and the 3200 hour service life was also based on this load profile. In order to assure safe operation of all the 18 Su-22 aircraft, the Individual Aircraft Tracking program was introduced. The program was based on the results of the FSFT as well as the analysis of the flight parameters recorded by the THETYS onboard flight recorder. In this paper, the authors present the methodology, assumed fatigue hypothesis and preliminary results of the IAT program for the Polish Su-22.