Novel Variable Speed Drogue Refueling (VSD) Navy SBIR FY2004.4 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2004.4 Topic No.: N04-266 Topic Title: Novel Variable Speed Drogue Refueling (VSD) Proposal No.: N044-266-0010 Firm: Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation 65 West Street Road Suite B-104 Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 Contact: Carl Calianno Phone: (215) 675-4900 Web Site: www.navmar.com Abstract: A Variable Speed Aerial Refueling Store Drogue will reduce C-130 mission time to conduct low speed and high speed aerial refueling. This developmental task will explore novel canopy drogue configurations to meet the challenges of producing the necessary drag at 105 knots airspeed with a configuration that meets the demanding geometric interface requirements mandated by high speed refueling. Another technical challenge which will be addressed, in addition to producing the required drag at low speed, is reduced drag at 250 knots airspeed. Novel methods of reducing the drag coefficient of the drogue as speed increases will be explored. Various configurations will be modeled and wind tunnel tested to determine the best performing configuration. Benefits: The current operational procedures which aerial refueling aircrew must implement, requires landing, and refitting a different refueling drogue configuration to accommodate a low speed refueling and a subsequent high speed refueling, or vice versa. A Variable speed drogue will greatly improve operational readiness, since the time required to land and change drogues will be eliminated, since the new configuration will provide the operational performance of the high and low speed systems. Countries all over the world conduct low and high-speed aerial refueling operations. Therefore a worldwide market exists for this novel concept. Return