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Most aircraft in the U. S. Air Force inventory currently use vented nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries for the main aircraft d.c. electrical power system and emergency power as well as other functions such as powering lights and instruments prior to engine starting/ignition. The major concerns of todays users are the high maintenance requirements, low reliability of vented NiCd battery systems and lack of a built-intest capability to check the battery state of health prior to flight. This paper will summarize efforts by the Wright Research and Development Center to develop maintenance free battery technologies for current and future aircraft applications.

The proposed paper will focus on the Air Force's effort that will increase reliability and maintainability and substantially decrease, if not eliminate, the cost of maintaining aircraft battery systems. This effort is recognized throughout the military services, (Army, Navy, and Air Force), and with most of the major aircraft battery manufacturers as the Tiger Team. The Tiger Team began approximately two years ago. The goal of this team is to eliminate battery flight line maintenance shops. The battery that is currently used in most aircraft, vented nickel-cadmium, requires frequent flight line maintenance. This procedure is very costly and time consuming. The proposed paper will overview battery technologies that are being considered for a replacement of the conventional vented nickel-cadmium aircraft battery technology. This overview will also look briefly at the history of aircraft battery systems and how aircraft battery systems arrived at their current status.