Currently systems are being developed which will filter chemical and biological contaminants from crew station air. In order to maximize the benefits of these systems, a method of keeping the cockpit contaminant free during pilot ingress and egress is needed. One solution is to use a rectangular plastic curtain to seal the four edges of the canopy frame to the canopy sill. The curtain is stored in a tray which is recessed into the canopy sill and unfolds in accordion fashion as the canopy is raised. A two way zipper developed by Calspan could be used as an airlock between the pilot's oversuit and the cockpit. This system eliminates the pilot's need for heavy and restrictive CB gear because he would never be exposed to the chemical warfare environment

Pickl, William C.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

ABSTRACT 
ORIGINAL PAGE IS 
OF POOR QUALIW 
N89- 1985 9 
ChLMICAL TdARFARE PROTECTION FOR THE COCKPIT OF I'UTURE AlRCPAFT 
William G. Pick1 
Air Force Wright Aeronau t j ca l  L a b o r a t o r i e s  
Aircrew P r c t e c t i o n  Branch 
Clr ight-Pat terson AFB, Ohio, 45433-6553 
C u r r e n t l y  systems are b e i n g  developed which 
w i l l  f i l t e r  chemical and b i o l o g i c a l  contaminants  
from crew s t a t i o n  a i r .  I n  o r d e r  t o  maximize t h e  
b e n e f i t s  of  t h e s e  sys t ems ,  a method of keeping t h e  
c o c k p i t  contaminant  f r e e  d u r i n g  p i l o t  i n g r e s s  and 
e g r e s s  i s  needed. One s o l u t i o n  i s  t o  u s e  a 
r e c t a n g u l a r  p l a s t i c  c u r t a i n  t o  seal  t h e  f o u r  edges 
of t h e  canopy frame t o  t h e  canopy s i l l .  The 
c u r t a i n  i s  s t o r e d  i n  a t r a y  which i s  r e c e s s e d  i n t o  
t h e  canopy s i l l  and u n f o l d s  i n  acco rd ion  f a s h i o n  
a s  t h e  canopy i s  r a i s e d .  A two way z i p p e r  deve l -  
oped by Calspan cou ld  b e  used a s  an  a i r l o c k  
between t h e  p i l o t ' s  o v e r s u i t  and t h e  cockp i t .  
Th i s  sys t em e l i m i n a t e s  t h e  p i l o t ' s  need f o r  heavy 
and res t r ic t ive  Cb g e a r  because he would neve r  be  
exposed t o  t h e  chemica l  w a r f a r e  environment.  
INTRODUCTION 
The S o v i e t ' s  r e c e n t  u s e  of  chemical  w a r f a r e  
a g e n t s  and t o x i n s  i n  Afghan i s t an  shows t h e i r  
w i l l i n g n e s s  t o  u s e  chemical  weapons t o  ach ieve  
t h e i r  m i l i t a r y  g o a l s .  
two purposes .  The f i r s t  i s  t o  cause  d i r e c t  
c a s u a l t i e s  on enemy pe r sonne l .  The second i s  t o  
r educe  t h e  o p p o s i t i o n ' s  performance by f o r c i n g  hjm 
t o  wear a restrictive Chemical and B i o l o g i c a l  (CB) 
p r o t e c t i v e  ensemble w h i l e  working in a contaminat-  
ed environment.  
Cur ren t  a i r c r a f t  have no means o f  p r e v e n t i n g  
t h e  con tamina t ion  of t h e  c o c k p i t  i n t e r i o r  when t h e  
a i r f i e l d  h a s  been chemica l ly  a t t a c k e d .  Because 
t h e  c o c k p i t  is " d i r t y "  t h e  p i l o t  must wear a heavy 
p r o t e c t i v e  s u i t  t h roughou t  h i s  mi s s ion .  The 
c u r r e n t  CB ensemble c o n s i s t s  o f :  a MEXJ-I3/P 
chemical-biological-oxygen mask (CBO), a b u t y l  
rubber  hood, a CRU-8O/P c h a r c o a l  f i l t e r  pack, an  
active c h a r c o a l  impregnated undergarment,  and 
b u t y l  rubbe r  g l o v e  i n s e r t s .  In  o r d e r  t o  p r o t e c t  
t h e  p i l o t  from l i q u i d  con taminan t s ,  a p l a s t i c  
overcape and ove rboo t s  are worn by t h e  p i l o t  
u n t i l  he  r e a c h e s  t h e  a i r c r a f t .  The CB ensemble 
r educes  p i l o t  performance by d e c r e a s i n g  head 
m o b i l i t y  and p e r i p h e r a l  v i s i o n ,  and by i n c r e a s i n g  
h e a t  build-up unde rnea th  t h e  CBO and t h e  rubber  
hood. 
d e f e a t s  t h e  f i r s t  purpose of  a chemical  a t t a c k ,  i t  
f a l l s  victim t o  t h e  second. T h i s  l e a d  t o  o u r  
development of  a CB p r o t e c t i o n  system concept  
which p r o t e c t s  t h e  p i l o t  from CB a g e n t s  i n  a 
manner which minimizes  t h e  n e g a t i v e  impact on 
p i l o t  performance ( s e e  f i g u r e  1). 
A chemical  a t t a c k  serves 
Although t h e  c u r r e n t  CB p r o t e c t i o n  system 
CHEMICAL BIOLOGlChI PROTECTION SYSTEM 
The proposed CB p r o t e c t i o n  system c o n s i s t s  of  
a n  i n g r e s s / e g r e s s  system and a Cockpit  Atmosphere 
P r o t e c t i o o  System (CAPS). The i n g r e s s / e g r e s s  
system would keep t h e  p i l o t  from b e i n g  exposed t o  
contaminants  d u r i n g  h i s  t r a n s f e r  from t h e  pro- 
t e c t i o n  s h e l t e r  t o  t h e  a i r c r a f t .  The CAPS wou1.d 
ma in ta in  a contaminant  f r e e  environment i n s i d e  t h e  
cockp i t .  
WAY 21 
/ 
/ 
I 
ENTRANCE LADDER /@ 
OVERSUIT 
F i g u r e  1. PROPOSED CB PROTECTION SYSTEM 
INGRESS PROCEDURE 
The new i n g r e s s  p rocedure  would beg in  w i t h  
t h e  p i l o t  e n t e r i n g  an  impermeable o v e r s u i t  u s i n g  
a two-way z i p p e r  (such as  t h e  "Supertab" 
developed by Calspan f o r  t h e  Army) t o  form an 
a i r l o c k  between t h e  p r o t e c t i v e  s h e l t e r  and t h e  
o v e r s u i t .  The p i l o t  would then  t r a v e l  o u t  t o  
h i s  a i r c r a f t  p r o t e c t e d  by t h e  o v e r s u i t .  
would t h e n  i n g r e s s  t h e  a i r c r a f t  by u s i n g  t h e  
z i p p e r  t o  form an a i r l o c k  between t h e  p i l o t ' s  
o v e r s u i t  and CAPS. The p i l o t  would i n g r e s s  and 
e g r e s s  t h e  c o c k p i t  through a 3' 6" l ong  two-way 
z i p p e r  l o c a t e d  on t h e  s i d e  of t h e  c u r t a i n  ( s e e  
f i g u r e  2) .  Once i n s i d e ,  t h e  p i l o t  would z i p  t h e  
c u r t a i n  c l o s e d  and t h e  o v e r s u i t  would f a l l  o f f .  
To e g r e s s  t h e  c o c k p i t ,  t h e  p i l o t  would f i r s t  z i p  
h i s  s p a r e  o v e r s u i t  o n t o  t h e  i n s i d e  o f  t h e  
c u r t a i n .  H e  would then  t u r n  t h e  s u i t  i n s i d e  
o u t ,  pushing i t  through t h e  opening i n  t h e  
H e  
309 
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c u r t a i n  s o  t h a t  i t  w o u l d  t b r n  be on t h e  o u t s i d e  of 
t h e  c u r t a i n .  He would then  r e v e r s e  t h e  i n g r e s s  
procedure and r e t u r n  t o  t h e  s h e l t e r .  The cse of 
o v e r p r e s s u r e  i n s u r e s  t h a t  no c o n t m i n a n t s  e n t e r  
t h e  c o c k p i t  through t h e  ;.ipper meclanism. The 
c o c k p i t  a i r  used t o  p rov ide  t h e  o v e r p r e s s u r e  could 
be  c l eansed  by a c a t a l y t i c  f i l t r a t i o n  system such 
as t h e  s y s t e m  b e l n g  developed b:r t h e  Envircnmental  
Control  proup o f  :he A i r  Force Wright Aeronau t i ca l  
L a b o r a t c r i e s .  The c v t r s u i t  and t h e  CAPS wculd 
p r o t e c t  t h e  p i l o t  from t h e  contaminated 
e n v i r o n s e n t .  T h i s  would a l l o w  him t o  f l y  h i 5  
mis s ion  f r e e  from t h e  h o t  and cumbersope CB 
ensemble. 
ORIGINAL PAGE IS 
OF POOR QUALITY 
The RECTANGULAR CURTAIN ( s e e  f i g u r e  3) is 
LrsIgned t o  p r o t e c t  t h e  c o c k p i t  from CE a g e n t s  
when t h e  canopy is  raised by s e a l j n g  t h e  edges  of  
cl ie  canopy t o  t h e  canopy sill.  The c u r t a i n  cou ld  
c o n s i s t  of a t h i n  sanduich (approximately .006 
Inches  6 oz ret s q u a r e  ya rd )  of a nylon polymer 
f i l m  l amina ted  t o  a suppor t  s u b s t r a t e .  The 
c u r t a i n  u n f o l d s  and f o l d s  i n  acco rd ion  f a s h i o n  a s  
TRANSPARENT 
F i g u r e  2.  PILOT TRANSFER FROM SUIT TO COCKPIT 
OVERSUIT 
The o v e r s u i t  would b e  des igned  t o  p r o t e c t  t h e  
p i l o t  from l i q u i d  and vapor  con taminan t s  d u r i n g  
t r a n s f e r  t o  and from t h e  a i r c r a f t .  It would be  
c o n s t r u c t e d  from a l i g h t w e i g h t  (approximately 6 0 2  
p e r  s q u a r e  y a r d ) ,  f l e x i b l e ,  and tough material, 
which h a s  good CB b a r r i e r  p r o p e r t i e s  (one p o s s i b l e  
material is a Saranex b a r r i e r  f i l m  bonded t o  a 
Tyvek s u p p o r t  m a t e r i a l ) .  
d i s p o s a b l e  and des igned  so t h a t  one s i z e  would f i t  
the 1st th rough  99 th  p e r c e n t i l e  U.S. A i r  Fo rce  
p i l o t s .  The s u i t  would b e  large enough so t h a t  
t h e  p i l o t  cou ld  crawl i n t o  and o u t  o f  i t  easi1.y 
u s i n g  a 3' 6" opening a c r o s s  t h e  chest, which 
would be  s e a l e d  by one h a l f  of  t h e  two-way z ippe r .  
The p i l o t  would be  wearing a n  advanced f l i g h t  s u i t  
which would p rov ide  f i l t e r e d  a i r  d u r i n g  h i s  
t r a n s f e r  t o  t h e  a i r c r a f t  and some CB p r o t e c t i o n  i n  
case of  emergency e g r e s s  o r  a l e a k  i n  t h e  CB 
p r o t e c t i o n  system. 
COCKPIT ATMOSPHERE PROTECTION SYSTEM 
The s u i t  would b e  
The CAPS c o n s i s t s  of a RECTANGULAR CURTAIN, a 
STORAGE TRAY, a STORAGE TRAY L I D ,  INFLATABLE 
RUBBER SEALS, and a RETRACTION SYSTEM each of  
which are desc r€bed  below. 
F i g u r e  3. SIDE VIEW OF CAPS 
t h e  canopy is r a l s e d  and lowered. The c u r t a i n  
dimensions were developed u s i n g  t h e  F-16 c o c k p i t  
as  a b a s e l i n e .  Assuming a 3" l i m i t  i n  f o l d e d  
width t h e  c u r t a i n  would r e q u i r e  48 p a n e l s  t o  seal  
t h e  c o c k p i t  opening.  
s h o r t e r  i n  t h e  back,  t h e  wid th  of  t h e  f o l d s  would 
only b e  1". 
s i d e s  t a p e r s  from 3" a t  t h e  f r o n t  t o  1" a t  t h e  
rear. The c u r t a i n  i s  a t t a c h e d  a t  t h e  bottom t o  
t h e  s t o r e g e  t r a y  and a t  t h e  t o p  t o  t h e  s t o r a g e  
t r a y  l i d .  To p r e v e n t  t h e  c u r t a i n  from b i l l o w i n g  
o u t  from o v e r p r e s s u r e ,  p l a s t i c  s t i f f e n e r s  would be  
a t t a c h e d  t o  t h e  i n s i d e  edge o f  each  c u r t a i n  f o l d  
( s e e  f i g u r e  4 ) .  
s t r u c t e d  of n material which was 2" wide and .04" 
t h i c k .  
c r e a s e d  a t  t h e  c e n t e r  and f o l d e d  180 degrees .  The 
comblned we igh t  of t h e  c u r t a i n  and s t i f f e n e r s  
would b e  approx ima te ly  15 pounds. 
Because t h e  c u r t a i n  is 
The wid th  of t h e  f o l d s  a l o n g  t h e  
The s t i f f e n e r s  would b e  con- 
The material  would b e  c a p a b l e  o f  b e i n g  
CONTAMINATED 
ENVIRONMENT 
-*7 -Itsi 
F i g u r e  4.  CROSS CUT VIEW OF CURTAIN 
(Dimensions are i n  i n c h e s )  
310 
ORIGINAL PAGE IS 
OF POOR QUALITY 
The SI'ORAGE TRAY ( s e e  f i g u r e  5) cou ld  he formed 
of a s i n g l e  molded p h s t i c  t r a y  which would be 
inipermeable to  chemical  a g e n t s  and weigh about  4 
pounds. The s t o r a g e  t r a y  would be  i n s e r t e d  i n t o  a 
r eces sed  groovt: i n  t h e  canc;py sill .  Thr width of 
t h e  b i n  would be  4" a t  t h e  f r o n t  of t h e  s i l l  and 
2" a t  t h e  back and would v a r y  l i n e a r l y  from 4" tc 
2" a l o n g  t h e  s l d e s .  The d e p t h  of t h e  t i n  cou ld  be  
3.5" and would depend on c u r t a i n  t h i c k n e s s .  The 
s e a l  i n s e r t  would a t t a c h  t h e  s t o r a g e  t r a y  t o  t h e  
bottom of  t h e  r e c e s s e d  groove i n  t h e  canopy sill.  
The s m a l l  i n d e n t a t i o n  a t  t h e  bottom of t h e  s t o r a g e  
t r a y  i s  t h e  gu ide  w i r e  channel  and a l o n g  i t s  
l e n g t h  are s o c k e t s  which would ho ld  t h e  gu ide  
wire r o l l e r s  i n  p l a c e .  
g u l d e  w i r e  t r a c k  i s  t h e  c u r t a i n  a t t achmen t  
s t r i p .  
To the r i g h t  o f  t h e  
I 
SEAL INSERT 
RUBBER "".- I 
-----_LID 
-CANOPY SILL 
PLASTIC 
CURTAIN 
STORAGE 
1 ILAY 
F i g u r e  5. CSOSS SECTTON O r  ClzpS 
The STORAGE TRAY L I D  cou ld  b e  formed of a 
s i n g l e  p i e c e  of  1/16" t h i c k  ha rd  molded p l a s t i c ,  
which would a l so  be impermeable to chemical  
a g e n t s  and would weigh about  1 pound. When the 
CAPS is no t  i n  u s e ,  t h e  pr imary purpose of t h i s  
p i e c e  i s  t o  serve as a l i d  t o  t h e  c u r t a i n  
s t o r a g e  t r a y  and i s  secu red  t o  t h e  s t o r a g e  t r a y  
by the t e n s i o n  i n  the g u i d e  w i r e s .  When CAPS is 
i n  use,  t h e  s t o r a g e  t r a y  l i d  s e r v e s  as t h e  means 
by which t h e  c u r t a i n  and g u i d e  w i r e s  are 
connected t o  t h e  canopy. 
The INFLATABLE RUBBER SEALS could be  made o f  a 
b u t y l  rubbe r  and would weigh approximately 2 
pounds. The seals cou ld  be  rounded on t h e i r  
o u t e r  s u r f a c e  and have t w o  hol low channe l s ,  one 
on each  s i d e .  
by a C02 c a r t r i d g e  which i s  a t t a c h e d  t o  each 
seal ,  t h e  seal  squeezes  t h e  seal i n s e r t .  The 
beaded shape  a t  t h e  end of  t h e  seal  i n s e r t  
p r e v e n t s  i t  from p u l l i n g  l o o s e .  One s e a l  would 
be  p l aced  i n  t h e  s t o r a g e  t r a y  recess of  t h e  
canopy s i l l  and t h e  o t h e r  wou1.d run  around t h e  
canopy edges.  
wires, g u i d e  w i r e  ro l le rs ,  and a t e n s i o n i n g  
mechanism. 
nylon and would b e  capab le  o f  w i t h s t a n d i n g  50 
When t h e  channe l s  are p r e s s u r i z e d  
The RETRACTION SYSTEM would c o n s i s t s  o f  gu ide  
The g u i d e  wires cou ld  b e  made o f  
pounds o r  t e n s i l e  f c r c e .  
be  l o c a t e d  on each  side o f  t h e  c u i t a i n .  The 
wires would he anchored t o  t h e  l i d  on one end,  
pass through grommets on t h e  s t i f f e n e r s ,  go 
sround t h e  r o l l e r s ,  p a s s  through t h e  w i r e  channe l ,  
and a t t a c h  a t  t h e i r  o t h e r  end t o  t h e  t e n s i o n i n g  
system. The purpose of t h e  gu ide  wires i s  t o  
e n s u r e  t h a t  t h e  c u r t a i n  f o l d s  p r o p e r l y  i n t o  t h e  
s t o r a g e  t r a y .  They would a lso suppor t  t h e  c u r t a i n  
and p reven t  e x c e s s i v e  b i l l o w i n g  due t o  
ove r -p res su re  o r  wind. 
c o n s i s t  o f  e i t h e r  a n  e lectr ic  motor and t a k e  up 
reels o r  some type  of s p r i n g  t e n s i o n  system. 
t o t a l  we igh t  of  t h e  t e n s i o n  sys t em is  estimated t o  
b e  10 pounds. 
OPERATION 
Two gu ide  wires would 
The t e n s i o n  system cou ld  
The 
While the a i r c r a f t  i s  i n  a s a f e  environment ,  
t h e  i n f l a t a b l e  rubbe r  s e a ?  i n  t h e  canopy frame 
would b e  l e f t  d e f l a t e d .  T h i s  would leave t h e  
s t o r a g e  t r a y  l i d  a t t a c h e d  t o  t h e  s t o r a g e  t r a y ,  
a l lowing  normal i n g r e s s  and e g r e s s .  Once t h e  
a i r c r a f t  h a s  been exposed t o  contaminants  t h e  
i n f l a t a b l e  rubber  seal i n s i d e  t h e  canopy frame 
would be  p r e s s u r i z e d  by i ts  C02 c a r t r i d g e  b e f o r e  
t h e  canopy is r a i s e d .  The C02 c a r t r i d g e  can b e  
a c t i v a t e d  from e i t h e r  t h e  I n s i d e  o r  t h e  o u t s i d e  
of  t h e  c o c k p i t .  The s t o r a g e  t r a y  l i d  i s  now 
f i r m l y  a t t a c h e d  t o  t h e  canopy frame. A s  t h e  
canopy is r a i s e d  t h e  l i d  p u l l s  t h e  p l a s t i c  
c u r t a i n  o u t  o f  t h e  s t o r a g e  t r a y  and t h e  c u r t a i n  
s t i f f e n e r s  s l i d e  up the g u i d e  w i r e s .  
canopy I s  lowered the g u i d e  w i r e s  i n s u r e  t ha t  
t h e  c u r t a i n  f o l d s  i n t o  t h e  s t o r a g e  t r a y  
p rope r ly .  The seals would remain p r e s s u r i z e d  
u n t i l  t h e r e  i s  t i m e  t o  decontaminate  t h e  
a i r c r a f t  and r e p l a c e  the CAPS. 
CONCLUSION 
A s  t h e  
The CAPS would b e  a l i g h t  weight  
(approximately 35 pounds) d e v i c e  which would 
p r e v e n t  contaminants  from e n t e r i n g  t h e  cockp i t .  
The CAPS h a s  the advantage of remaining passive 
u n t i l  CB a g e n t s  are d e t e c t e d ,  when it can b e  
a c t i v a t e d  by t h e  push of a b u t t o n .  CAPS can b e  
removed and r e p l a c e d  q u i c k l y  and e a s i l y  when t h e  
a i r c r a f t  h a s  beep decontaminated.  CAPS makes 
u s e  of  a doub le  z i p p e r  mechanism which, when 
combined w i t h  an  impermeable o v e r s u i t ,  a l l o w s  
t h e  p i l o t  t o  t r a n s f e r  s a f e l y  from a p r o t e c t i v e  
s h e l t e r  t o  t h e  c o c k p i t .  This means t h e  p i l o t  
could t r a n s f e r  t o  h i s  a i r c r a f t  w i thou t  e v e r  
b e i n g  exposed t o  t h e  CR environment which would 
d e f e a t  t h e  f i r s t  purpose o f  a chemical  a t t a c k .  
The CAPS would a l l o w  t h e  p i l o t  t o  ma in ta in  t h e  
same performance l e v e l  h e  had b e f o r e  the 
a i r f i e l d  was contaminated,  d e f e a t i n g  t h e  second 
purpose o f  a chemical  a t t a c k .  
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\ 
5 
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312 


Chemical warfare protection for the cockpit of future aircraft

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