A "ROLLING PLATFORM" designed to simulate the motion of a ship-borne helicopter-landing deck has undergone acceptance trials with the UK Defence Evaluation & Research Agency (DERA).
The platform will be used to support the development of systems for maritime helicopters, and includes a deck design based on that of a Royal Navy Type 23 frigate.
The DERA says that current trials involve a Westland Lynx, but the platform is designed to accommodate a heavier (15t) helicopter hitting the deck with an impact equivalent to 3G.
The computer-controlled platform will be used for early trials of the EH Industries EH101 Merlin helicopter as "...a safer and economic alternative to using a frigate", says the DERA.
Source: Flight International