Systems and methods for testing flight control surface actuators of aerial refueling booms

A system for testing control surface actuators of an aerial refueling boom, the system comprising:

• a crank support configured to be coupled to a body of the aerial refueling boom;
• a crank coupled to and pivotable relative to the crank support;
• a first rudder clamp coupled to the crank and configured to be coupled to a first rudder of the aerial refueling boom;
• a second rudder clamp coupled to the crank and configured to be coupled to a second rudder of the aerial refueling boom;
• a first elevator clamp configured to be coupled to a first elevator of the aerial refueling boom;
• and
• a second elevator clamp configured to be coupled to a second elevator of the aerial refueling boom,
• wherein:
• with the first rudder clamp coupled to the first rudder, a constant rudder test force applied to the crank drives actuation of the first rudder against a first rudder actuator;
• with the second rudder clamp coupled to the second rudder, the constant rudder test force applied to the crank drives actuation of the second rudder against a second rudder actuator;
• and
• with the first elevator clamp coupled to the first elevator and the second elevator clamp coupled to the second elevator, a constant elevator test force applied to the first elevator clamp and the second elevator clamp drives actuation of the first elevator and the second elevator against an elevator actuator.

A method for testing control surface actuators of an aerial refueling boom, the method comprising:

• coupling a rudder test apparatus to at least one of a first rudder and a second rudder of the aerial refueling boom;
• coupling an elevator test apparatus to at least one of a first elevator and a second elevator of the aerial refueling boom;
• applying a constant rudder test force to the rudder test apparatus;
• driving actuation of one of the first rudder or the second rudder against a rudder actuator;
• applying a constant elevator test force to the elevator test apparatus;
• and
• driving actuation of the first elevator and the second elevator against an elevator actuator.