The Valdez Team
The Valdez Team – a purposefully assembled, seasoned group of business and academic partners with demonstrated expertise and experience in a complete range of engineering, research, and technical activities involving aging structures – is pleased to submit the following proposal for providing such support to the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Center for Aircraft Structural Life Extension (CAStLE). On our team, Valdez International Corporation (Valdez), the prime contractor, is joined by the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), NDE Services, Inc. (NDE), and Strategic Analysis, Inc. (SA). Together, we offer a superior, rich, and exceptionally deep resource for both CAStLE and the Academy. As the following volumes will demonstrate, we possess the technical acumen and expertise, the talented body of engineering and research professionals, and the teaming strengths and processes to meet and exceed the requirements of the solicitation. In marshaling our combined talents and services for this proposal, we affirm our commitment to a greater objective: maximizing the serviceability and effectiveness of a fleet that must support a host of critical wartime and other national security missions.
Summary of Our Proposal
A Responsive Technical Approach. Our proposal, which includes a technical approach marked by applied engineering and scientific rigor and validated by an exceptional record of relevant past and present performance, responds directly and thoroughly to the fundamental tasks set forth in the Statement of Objectives: “basic development and characterization of materials, mechanical testing of structure(s), material corrosion susceptibility and mitigation, computer modeling and finite element ...
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...te offices and laboratory in Denver, Colorado would greatly facilitate effective project control and scheduling under this new contract.
Conclusion
Members of the Valdez Team and their staffs have proudly played a significant, active role in the impressive, rapid growth of research efforts during the past five years at the USAF Academy, particularly in the Center for Aircraft Structural Life Extension. We have offered outstanding engineering and research support of the highest quality to CAStLE – support now required by this new acquisition – at great value to the Government. In doing so, we assisted both CAStLE and the Academy in providing a service and resource of tremendous value to the greater U.S. Air Force. As a result of this ongoing contribution, we are uniquely poised and experienced to meet the subsequent, continuing demands of this solicitation.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that valdez international corporation, the prime contractor, is joined by the national institute for aviation research, nde services, and strategic analysis, inc.
- Explains that the valdez team will employ a number of proven methods to manage such risk, including active recruitment and retention efforts.
- Explains that our team has broad, current experience and expertise in teardown analysis programs involving a host of aircraft, including the kc-135. this strong record of directly related know-how and success will permit us to deliver immediate engineering, scientific technical, logistic, and managerial support and service from the first day of the contract.
- Explains that management and staff are completely "at home" in the unique environment of this contract, from the aircraft origination point in tucson, az, to our multiple storage and operating facilities and laboratories.
- Explains that they were directly involved in establishing and authoring the protocols that provide detailed procedures for every step of the kc-135 teardown analysis process. their intimate knowledge of these protocols will greatly diminish execution risk.
- Explains that valdez team and their staffs have played a significant, active role in the impressive, rapid growth of research efforts during the past five years at the usaf academy.
- Describes valdez's technical approach, which is marked by applied engineering and scientific rigor and validated by an exceptional record of relevant past and present performance.
- Describes valdez international corporation, a hispanic woman-owned business based in colorado springs, and the national institute for aviation research.
Related
- explanatory
- argumentative
- opinion
- analytical
- Aircraft Agingexplanatory essayEdward G. Tripp. (2001). Aging Aircraft and Coming Regulations. Retrieved February 2, 2011, from http://www.iasa.com
In this essay, the author
- Describes the number of takeoff and landing cycles or the hours a plane can fly.
- Explains that maintenance cycles are based on hours, days, and years on the airframe.
- Explains that there are many specific types of corrosion, but all of them result in corrosion.
- Explains that some forms of corrosion can be detected with naked eyes, but there are some.
- Explains that this is done without creating any harm to the aircraft or its flight status.
- Explains that as technology gets more advanced with today’s aircraft and new material is introduced to the aircraft, new problems will begin to occur causing issues for technicians and engineers.
- Explains edward g. tripp's aging aircraft and coming regulations. retrieved february 2, 2011.
- Cites allan chernoff, faa moving to prevent aging aircraft dangers.
- Explains the importance of detecting and slowing down the aging process in aviation maintenance to increase the serviceability and reliability of both military and civilian aircraft.
- Explains that flight logs record the number of hours an aircraft has been flown. if the airframe has not been stressed, it has low hours and is nearly good as new.
- Explains that age-related fuel system problems include leaks, fuel-filter clogging, and inability to shut down the engine.
- Explains that oil system failures are caused by maintenance errors or lack of proper oil monitoring. bearing failure is one of the leading causes of engine failure.
- Explains that fires can be caused by shorts, opens, insulation damage, and overloaded circuits. aging is an issue that can never be completely prevented but will always be a major concern in aviation maintenance.
1425 wordsRead More - The Beauty of the Cleveland Hopkins Airport in Clevelandargumentative essayWhen one travels by air, the beauty of the structures around him/ her enhances their travel experience. At this time and age, countries and states have mega structures that include technologically enhanced airports. They are not only designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of a traveler’s experience, but give them the beauty and expertise that is in engineering. The work behind the scenes of these structures requires precise and correct calculations to ensure the lifespan of the same is both long and appealing to the viewer (Ashford 24). Cleveland Hopkins is one such wonder that may not be jaw dropping now, but played the role well during its days of glory and design premiers. From the time of its commissioning, a lot has been improved on the airport makin...
In this essay, the author
- Concludes that the cleveland hopkins airport played a large role in serving travelers and ensuring their safety. the design used in the construction of the airport also defined it from recent airports.
- Describes dempsey's airport planning and development handbook: a global survey.
- Explains that cleveland hopkins airport was commissioned in the southwestern part of cleveland’s central business district on 1 july 1925. it covers 1040 acres of land located between the meeting point of the riverside road and brook park road.
- Explains that the control tower provided a 360-degree view of the entire airport to the operators. the tower was equipped with an air radio system allowing communication between the tower operators and multiple airlines.
- Explains that the second world war proved the existence of the airport crucial to the country. it provided the location for testing of new and improved models of aircraft engines.
- Explains that cleveland international airport was commissioned in 1925 as the first airport in the united states to be under a municipal authority. it has impressive facts and features, which define and distinguish it from other airports.
- Explains the design of the control tower, which was a glass-structured enclosure on top of tall concrete structure facilitating the ease of instructing the landing and taking off planes simultaneously.
- Explains that the cleveland hopkins airport was the first airport to have runway lighting.
- Describes how outcalt and guenther built the first terminal on the edge of the runway where the various airlines had their ticketing booths.
- Analyzes how the cleveland hopkins airport was a structure whose exact design doesn't seem to relate with the current generation.
- Explains that the cleveland hopkins airport's runway design was modified to reflect the wet conditions of the airport. technology would have been at the heart of every step.
- Cites ashford, norman, et. al., "runway marking represented by different lights."
2655 wordsRead More - Informative Essay On Space Shuttle Challengeropinion essayThe integrity of the structure and of the seals of all joints should be not less than that of the case walls throughout the design envelope (rec 198, nasa.gov).
In this essay, the author
- Thanks the crew of the space shuttle challenger for their bravery, courage, determinations, and sacrifice for this great nation.
- Explains that when an aircraft crash occurs, there has to be events or succession of events that cause the crash to happen. the space shuttle's crash was caused by a problem in the joint between the two lower segments of the right solid rocket.
- Explains the structural and mechanical factors that prevailed the crash of the shuttle, which occurred when the challenger flew in the worst wind shear ever recorded.
- Describes the contributing factors to the crash, including the o-ring erosion that led to an increase in temperature, and the non respect of working conditions of the shuttle components.
- Explains that the investigation board concluded the o-ring seal on challenger's solid rocket booster, brittle due super cold temperatures, let out the flames that then broke out of the booster and caused damages on the external fuel tank.
- Recommends that the joints be fully understood, tested, and verified following the disaster. the integrity of the structure and seals of all joints should be not less than the case walls throughout the design envelope.
- Explains that the space shuttle challenger's catastrophe forced nasa to rethink its procedures and methods of operation. nasa improved its shuttle management structure, its safety panel, critical review and hazard policy, communication, and safety organization.
- Opines that the crash of the space shuttle challenger could have been avoided if all safety precautions were taken into consideration. we learn and improve ourselves from our mistakes, but we still have choices to prevent those mistakes by doing things right.
- Cites http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/investigations/q0122.shtml and nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/51-l.
- Explains that rec 198, nasa.gov. retrieved from http://history.
1063 wordsRead More - Hinkle, Jeffrey J. "Funding the New, Fixing the Old holds the Future for Tactical Trucks." National Defense 82 (1997-1998): 32-34.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the military must be maintained to ensure a strong, healthy nation both abroad and on the home front.
- Explains that military down sizing is increasing at a rapid rate due to budget cuts. the carter-reagan buildup was shorter but smaller than the one for vietnam.
- Explains that the military's inability to provide its men and women with sufficient transportation is also a problem caused by budget cuts.
- Explains that the united states military has reduced its strength by about a third of what it was in 1985, despite this reduction in military strength.
- Opines that it is difficult to be absolutely positive where the next outbreak of war might occur.
- Opines that america may be enhancing its enemies' ability to pose a substantial threat by selling to allies or others in order to reduce research costs.
- Opines that the current force and funding reductions make it impossible for the united states to maintain its former deployed force deterrent, while modern technology makes the stakes too high to be caught without notice of unpredicted conventional or nuclear war.
- Opines that the world is entering a period of peace, but nations could be lying to one another about ceasing nuclear building.
- Explains that the down sizing of military budgets brings challenges with the search for improving efficiency and better value for money.
- Opines that america must maintain its military status to ensure a strong, healthy nation both abroad and on the home front.
- Cites jurgen and manas chatterji's economic issues of disarmament, published by the federation of american scientists.
1255 wordsRead More - Super Sonic Business Jet Assumptionsanalytical essayWerner-Westphal, C., Heinze, W., & Horst, P. (2008). Multidisciplinary integrated preliminary design applied to unconventional aircraft configurations. Journal of Aircraft, 45(2), 581-590.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that using the aerion corporation aircraft as a model, as well as research by nasa and gulfstream, there appears to be an opportunity for innovation in the supersonic business jet market.
- Argues that the tradeoff between aircraft weight and engine power is the primary issue on the way forward. researchers have suggested that engines will be the limiting factor in any future supersonic commercial flight.
- Explains that overcoming the legal and environmental challenges facing a proposed supersonic business jet requires the consideration of economic factors.
- Explains that research suggests a market for 250 to 450 aircraft, if the supersonic over land and increased range requirements are met. potential customers include large business entities, as well individuals culled from the more than 1,600 billionaires around the world.
- Opines that a joint venture, perhaps aerion and gulfstream, would improve the chances for success.
- Argues that the quest for supersonic transport began on october 14, 1947, when chuck yeager reached mach 1.06 in the bell x-1.
- Explains that the legal prohibition against civil supersonic flight stemmed from the 1960s, protest against proposed super-sst aircraft that killed the boeing 2707 project.
- Explains that manufacturers must ensure a large enough market exists to offset the development costs, estimated at $2.5 billion for the aerion. time saved is the primary benefit to the consumer.
- Explains that a sbj is feasible, but the 4,000 nautical mile range of the aerion will not meet the non-stop range requirements specified in the initial proposal.
- Explains that nasa and aerion to continue testing supersonic (sst) business jet technology.
- States that the world's first supersonic business jet will reach the market in 2021.
883 wordsRead More - The Titanic: The Death Of The Titanicexplanatory essay...atures, such as deck openings, and expansion joints. Today, we’re changing the way we design ships. In the past, nominal load conditions were averaged. Today, we design for the ultimate stress levels and strength” (Deitz).
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the titanic's mysterious sinking led to more changes and better technology for ships.
- Describes life on the titanic, which was 882.5 feet long, ninety-five feet wide, 11 stories tall, and carried 2,200 passengers.
- Explains that the wealthy were favored and treated with the utmost respect because of the titanic’s extravagance. first class passengers received a variety of amenities that were not available to second and third class.
- Describes how the titanic's passengers partyed, danced and drank on the night of april 12, 1912, as the ship left southampton, uk, for new york city.
- Describes how the titanic struck an iceberg while traveling approximately 24 knots, or about 20 miles per hour, on april 14th, 1912. the ship was ill prepared and had less lifeboats than people.
- Explains that the titanic experienced hull failure, or failure of the main frame, at the surface and sank as a result. the ship had 16 bulkheads which divided the ship.
- Explains how the titanic's tragic sinking could have been prevented by the sea being unusually calm and the ships portholes being open and doors being twice the size of the original hole.
- Explains that the titanic's relevance in history is easy to explain. it was the largest and most luxurious ship and man-made moving object ever built up until that time.
- Explains that the sinking of the titanic led to changes in safety features and laws and many new advancements in technology.
- Explains that the titanic was all sunshine and happiness until that fateful night of april 14th. the worst part was that it could have been prevented in numerous ways.
1070 wordsRead More - Q & A Case Study: NYC Subway Transportationopinion essayThe past applications are a must in the design these days to avoid the same mistakes and errors, but new solutions are required to be applied.
In this essay, the author
- Explains the concept of rapid transit or subway, which is a public underground railroad usually assembled under cities to travel only inside urban areas.
- Explains how the subway was built in 1904 under the auspices of the interborough rapid transit company (irt).
- Explains that the design had important objectives such as high-capacity of passengers, rapidity, and reasonable budget. the underground system had a threat to sink in flood water.
- Opines that to make new york city subway more efficient in the future, these concerns should be solved.
- Analyzes how the metropolitan transportation authority (mta) promised to have trains on time, but only 75% of the trains reached the mta aim and goal.
- Opines that the trains design can be improved and devolved in a way to have the concept of self-cleaning.
- Opines that it is difficult to be disconnected from the e-world spicily for long periods of time, since the subway system is submerged under the ground.
1625 wordsRead More - Wilbur and Orville Wright and the First Airplaneanalytical essayWise, J. (2006, June 05). Introducing the airplane of the future. Popular Mechanics. Retrieved from http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/aviation/news/2932316
In this essay, the author
- Explains that wilbur and orville wright's dream of heavier-than-air flight has transformed mankind from a flight of 120 feet, in an aircraft designed largely out of wood, using bicycle drive technology.
- Explains that the wright flyer and the aircraft we fly today all started as a dream that later turned into an aerodynamic design.
- Analyzes how nasa and google have teamed up in the cafe green flight challenge, a competition to see who can come up with the best design for an electric powered aircraft.
- Explains that boeing is working on a project called sugar-volt, which would be similar to the hybrid cars on the road today.
- Explains that computer technology is now making flying safer, and nasa has developed an intelligent flight control system that uses onboard systems to adapt to unexpected failures. ford is testing a similar system known as v2v.
- Explains that hydrogen is the most abundant fuel resource in the universe. aerovironment has successfully flown the global observer, a drone, and boeing's phantom eye.
- Explains that a scramjet has no moving parts and uses fan-like components to compress the air. anti-matter and anti-gravity are also propulsion systems of the future that are being worked on by scientists and engineers today.
- Argues that the future of air travel could include smaller, more personal aircraft, such as the flying car.
- Explains that virgin galactic helps build the new space age in the mojave desert.
- Explains that "sky whale" design brings future of flying closer. cnn travel.
- Analyzes the warp speed of today: boeing's x-51a waverider.
- Cites wsu scientists harnessing the power of antimatter from boeing. the phantom eye: the eye in the sky.
- Cites hill, n. (1992), think & grow rich: a black choice, and hui, m. (2011, december 11).
- Cites paur, j., & pastore, r. (2012, january 05). the jets of the future. popular science.
- Cites wise, j., and world digital library's telegram from orville wright to his father announcing four successful flights.
1477 wordsRead More - National Transportation Safety Boards Report Case Studyanalytical essayRecommendations include requiring the Douglas Aircraft Company change maintenance and calibration requirements for all DC-8 stall warning systems, improving the fidelity of the simulators in reproducing the stall characteristics of the airplanes they represent, ensure ABX incorporates the revised functional evaluation stall recovery procedure in its FEF program and developing an advisory circular advising aircrew on correct stall maneuver procedures. Additional requirements were for the FAA to identify operations that require special consideration and require special training and operational guidance. They were also to take a more active role in surveillance of FEF programs for air carriers and modify current operating instructions to clarify airworthiness and operational procedural requirements for conducting FEF’s in transport-category aircraft. The Safety Board also reiterated its standing recommendation to present pilots with angle-of-attack information in a visual format and to train them to use the information to obtain maximum possible climb performance.
In this essay, the author
- Summarizes the national transportation safety boards report on the accident involving a douglas dc-8-63, n827ax, operated by abx air inc.
- Describes how a douglas dc-8-63, n827ax, operated by abx air inc. (airborne express) impacted mountainous terrain in the vicinity of narrows, virginia, on december 22, 1996.
- Explains that abx failed to establish a formal functional evaluation flight program that included adequate program guidelines, requirements, and pilot training for performance of these flights.
- Explains that the national transportation safety board concluded there were twenty-three findings that directly contributed to this airplane accident.
- Explains that the airplane had been operating intermittently in the cloud tops and below freezing air temperatures. the aircrew's statements on the cvr indicate they were aware of icing before starting the maneuver.
- Explains that rigging of the airplane's flap and aileron control surfaces could have affected the buffet, stall, and buffet speeds. the safety board concluded that airframe icing, flight controls, or other factors contributed to the greater-than-expected buffet onset speed
- Explains that both pilots were qualified to act as a dc-8 captain at abx. the pilot not flying failed to recognize, address and correct the pilot flying's inappropriate control inputs.
- Analyzes how the inoperative stall warning system failed to reinforce to the flightcrew the indications that the airplane was in a full-stall during the recovery attempt.
- Opines that an airplane accident could have been prevented if the flightcrew had been provided a clear, direct indication of the airplane's angle of attack.
- Explains that the flightcrew did not have a clearly visible natural horizon because of darkness and clouds above and below the airplane. the airplane encountered instrument meteorological conditions shortly after descending through 13,500 feet.
- Explains that the accident airplane was in vmc (visual meteorological conditions) above a cloud layer when the flightcrew began the stall series.
- Explains that the flightcrew's exposure to a low fidelity reproduction of the dc-8’s stall characteristics in the abx dc8 flight training simulator contributed to the pilot flying holding the control column inputs when the airplane began to pitch down and roll.
- Analyzes how the abx dc-8 simulator developed a stable, nose-high, wings-level descent when slowed to below the airspeed of stick shaker activation.
- Explains that the abx dc-8 experienced an in-flight loss of control during an fef while recovering from a stall.
- Explains abx's failure to require completion of a functional evaluation flight by sundown or to establish adequate limitations on ambient lighting and weather conditions led the flightcrew to attempt the stall series.
- Explains that abx had weather minimums for fef takeoffs, but no minimum for maneuvers performed at higher altitudes and beyond the vicinity of the airport, such as the stall series.
- Explains that the flightcrew's decision to fly the fef at night was influenced by the succession of delays they had experienced earlier in the day.
- Explains that the ntsb determined the probable causes of the accident were the inappropriate control inputs applied by the flying pilot during a stall recovery attempt.
- Recommends requiring the douglas aircraft company to change maintenance and calibration requirements for all dc-8 stall warning systems, improving the fidelity of the simulators, and developing an advisory circular.
2588 wordsRead More - The Challenger Disaster Explainedargumentative essay...mpanies. The Structural Test Article simulated pressure on the vertical components during launch. After testing, Marshall concluded that the gap size was sufficient for both of the O-rings to be out of position. Again Thiokol rebutted Marshall’s claim by challenging the validity of the electrical components used to measure joint rotation. Thiokol believed that their test was superior to Marshall’s test, because it validated their conclusion. This is a fundamental problem know as experimenter’s regress. Since the true solution is unknown, the best test is the one that supports the experimenter’s view. Since this disagreement could not be solved between the two, the O-ring manufacturer was consulted. The manufacturer told the two that the O-ring was not designed for such high project specifications needed for the craft, but NASA decided to work with what they had.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the challenger disaster of 1986 was a shock felt around the country. immediately after the catastrophe, blame was spread to various people who were in charge of creating the shuttle.
- Analyzes how collins and pinch draw a distinctive line between what actually happened and the public's perspective on what happened.
- Explains that risk is impossible to eliminate. the o-ring is supposed to seal, but there are no perfect, zero-leak seals.
- Explains that nasa has to take this risk because there are many parts of the shuttle that are very difficult to design and engineer.
- Compares the results of the hydroburst test and the structural test article.
1083 wordsRead More