Structures Flight Testing at Edwards AFB
Abstract
This document presents an overview of the types of structures testing conducted at Edwards AFB for the purpose of kindling interest in EAFB flight testing careers amongst undergraduate and post-graduate engineering university students. Established in the 1930s, Edwards AFB quickly became a hot bed of pioneering flight test activities and has grown over the last 80 years into the flourishing test center that it is today. Ever since the advent of powered flight, aircraft have been plagued by their own structural limitations leading to countless mishaps and tragedies. Todays structures test community has grown out of these tragedies. Modern structures testing encompasses a wide range of test regimes that can be generalized into three categories: loads, flutter, and vibration. Each of these categories includes its own unique ground tests, instrumentation, flight tests, and post flight data analysis techniques. The average flight test day consists of multiple events that all link together in order to acquire the desired test data in a manor that is simultaneously safe, secure, effect, and efficient. With multiple available career paths, employment as a Department of Defense civilian flight test professional at Edwards AFB provides multiple benefits along with the opportunity to work on cutting edge aviation projects, side by side with passionate and skillful individuals striving to ensure the defense of our nation today and into the future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 23, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1186924
Entities
People
- Daniel Ramos
- Matthew Ross