In flight test, success depends on moving data from aircraft to ground without loss, delay, or compromise.
Airborne Recording: Secure, High-Speed Capture
The Ampex miniRv2 is a rugged Chapter 10 flight test recorder built for airborne data acquisition across fixed-wing, rotary, and unmanned platforms.
It delivers:
- IRIG 106 Chapter 10 recording, with NEW Chapter 24 & 26 support
- Chapter 7 PCM output for real-time telemetry downlink
- Up to 1,000 Mb/sec sustained data rates
- Up to 2 TB removable storage
- Flexible, modular I/O for mission-specific configurations
Security is built in:
- AES-256 (FIPS 197)
- FIPS 140
- CSfC solutions
- Turnstile encryption
This ensures flight test data is protected from capture through post-mission analysis.
Air-to-Ground Telemetry Flow
During flight, data moves from the Recorder → Antenna → Ground Station.
The miniRv2 outputs Chapter 7 PCM, feeding the aircraft telemetry system and transmitting through the antenna to the ground station. This enables live monitoring during test events while preserving a complete onboard dataset for post-flight analysis.
Portable or Fixed Ground System
This is where airborne telemetry becomes usable, validated data. On the ground, data is acquired, transported, recorded, processed, and displayed, turning it into actionable insight.
This system can be deployed as:
- A portable rackmount solution in a Pelican case for field use
- A fixed rack system within a permanent ground station
Where the portable system fits:
- Remote flight test ranges
- Temporary or surge test environments
- UAS and autonomous system testing
- Missile and rocket test events
Why it matters:
- Rapid deployment
- Pre-integrated, validated system
- Consistent architecture across environments
- Scalable from portable to fixed installations
Ground System Components: What’s Happening Under the Hood
This isn’t just a rack of gear, it’s a coordinated telemetry pipeline.
Digital RF Receiver – GDP Model 4455 (Acquisition)
- Dual-channel 4th gen receiver with diversity combining
- Wide RF coverage: L, S, C, and CIF bands
- Supports PCM/FM, SOQPSK, BPSK, QPSK, ARTM Tier 0–2, STC
- Advanced FEC and noise mitigation: Viterbi, LDPC, Reed-Solomon, adaptive equalization
- Outputs IRIG 218-10/20, Chapter 10/11, Chapter 7
Correlating BSS – GDP Model 2267 (Acquisition – Signal Selection)
- Up to 16 channels / 6 groups
- Auto correlation + diversity combining
- Based on data quality, majority vote, frame sync
- >5 dB performance gain
- Seamless switching, supports encrypted streams
TMoIP Gateway – GDP Model 2355 (Transport)
- Telemetry over IP (TMoIP) conversion
- 4–16 channels, 100 bps to 50 Mbps
- Supports IRIG 218-10/20
- Low latency, low skew
- Copper + fiber SFP interfaces
RF Recorder – Wideband DRS9300X (Recording & Playback)
- Up to 200 MHz bandwidth per channel
- 500 MSPS sampling
- P, L, S, C band recording
- 16-bit A/D & D/A, 80+ dB AGC
- Up to 24 TB storage
Telemetry Data Processor – Acroamatics Model 2510 (Processing)
- Compact, high-performance real-time telemetry processing
- Converts incoming streams into usable data
- Designed for low-latency, high-reliability environments
ADAT Software – Acroamatics (Display & Analysis)
- Real-time data visualization and control
- Custom dashboards + widget-based UI
- Time-correlated displays
- Integrated recording, playback, and post-test analysis
How the System Works
As shown in the system diagram:
- RF signals are received and digitized by the 4455 receiver
- Data is transported over IP via the 2355 gateway
- The 2267 BSS selects the best signal in real time
- The DRS9300X enables RF recording and playback
- The Acro 2510 TDP processes telemetry data streams
- ADAT delivers real-time display and post-test analysis
Each component is engineered to operate as part of a unified system, ensuring reliable data flow across every stage of the telemetry chain, from acquisition through display and analysis.
End-to-End Flight Test Telemetry, Done Right
From airborne recording with the miniRv2, through antenna downlink, into portable or fixed ground systems, this architecture delivers a complete flight test telemetry solution.
Acquire. Transport. Record. Process. Display & Analyze.
Built for real missions. Designed to move data without compromise.