despite relatively adventurous projects.
‘Before a program begins it’s evaluated
to see if it’s worthy and realistic to put
money into,’ says Larson. ‘Our engineers
often have to speci cally modify an
aircraft so a speci c test program can be
executed. It’s of great importance that
we hire the best people for the job and
we schedule all the programs so they can
be done separately from each other.’
Sharing projects enables NASA to
make full use of all possibilities. Working
together with other government
agencies and commercial companies
alike enables the sharing of resources
and subsequent ndings. It’s the
test facilities in and around Edwards
that act as a vital conduit for NASA’s
advanced test work. Larson speci cally
mentions the Rogers Dry Lake, adjacent
to Edwards. ‘This gives us the largest
emergency runway in the US’, he says.
The range of projects is mind-blowing,
from storm research to the Dream Chaser
spacecraft. ‘I am lucky to say that we have
amazing teams here at NASA,’ Larson
comments. ‘They have worked here for
many years and are very experienced.
Most of the pilots are also engineers, and
the technicians do a great job in keeping
these old birds ying.
‘I think it’s essential that test pilots
join our [respective] programs at
the beginning. They join the team in
writing the requirements right through
to ying the test aircraft. All my heroes
have worked here, and now I sit in their
o ces.’Left: Two F-16XLs
were used by
NASA to improve
laminar airfl ow
on aircraft fl ying
at sustained
supersonic
speeds. NASA
Below: NASA’s
now-retired
NF-15B (837) was
also known as
the F-15 STOL/
MTD (short
take-off and
landing/maneuver
technology
demonstrator).
NASA
Bottom: NASA’s
venerable B-52B
launch aircraft
now resides at the
base’s north gate.
It participated
in some of the
most signifi cant
projects in
aerospace history
before retirement
in December
2004.
Frank Visserhttp://www.combataircraft.net // June 2018 93
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