AIRCRAFT BASED NON-DEDICATED SPECIAL MISSION POD MOUNTING APPARATUS

摘要

Particular embodiments include a non-dedicated, temporarily installed, airborne special mission payload mounting system which is mechanically interfaced to the Air Deployment System (ADS) rails of a host cargo aircraft. An Adaptive Mounting Plate (AMP) is placed over an ADS rail section and restrained in position. Once the AMP is secured, an articulated or fixed position strut can be attached to the AMP through the opened side doorway without removing the original door. Once the strut is secured to the AMP, a one-piece or segmented two-piece pressurized door plug is installed within the vacant doorway above the strut providing an airtight seal and thereby permitting pressurization of the aircraft. The mission payload mounting system can be housed in a strut transport and alignment case which is temporarily attached to the floor of the aircraft during installation of the system, then removed.

主权项

1. A method of installing a mission payload mounting apparatus to an aircraft comprising:
temporarily attaching a strut transport and alignment case to a floor of the aircraft, wherein the strut transport and alignment case houses:
an adaptive mounting system (AMS) plate; anda strut; interfacing the AMS plate to one or more Air Deployment System (ADS) rails; coupling the strut to the AMS plate, wherein the strut further extends from an interior of the aircraft to an exterior of the aircraft via a pressurized door plug that interfaces to the aircraft; and removing the strut transport and alignment case from the floor of the aircraft.