The Test Facility's Role in the Effective Development of Aerospace Systems
Abstract
Some of the major problems associated with the use and usefulness of aeronautical test facilities (wind tunnels, etc.) in the development of aerospace systems are defined and analyzed. Contributions to the study have come from 117 of this country's more experienced and prominent aerospace experts from government and industry. The origin of the facility test plan and the use of the test facility to support DoD system's development philosophy are explored and suggestions are made to reduce conflicting incentives and permit an expanded role for the test facility. The deficiencies in test facilities are shown to produce consequences which are resulting in higher system cost and less system performance. The major facility inadequacies are enumerated and specific examples are noted wherein lack of test capability has had detrimental effects on system performance. Thirty-five of the recent aircraft development programs are studied and evaluated to determine a procedure whereby the use of the test facility can be optimized. A multiple regression analysis is used to develop a procedure for defining an optimal facility test program.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0731548
Entities
People
- James G. Mitchell
Organizations
- Air Force Systems Command