804th Test Group

Tunnel 9 Wind TunnelThe 804th Test Group is responsible for programming, management, execution, and reporting all test and analysis & evaluation programs in the center's wind tunnels, gas turbine (jet engine) sea level and altitude test cells, space environmental chambers, altitude rocket test cells, ballistic ranges, arc heaters and other aerospace test units including geographically separated units at Ames Research Center, Mountain View and Edwards AFB, California; Peterson AFB, Colorado; the Federal Research Center at White Oak, Maryland; and Hill AFB, Utah.

716th Test Squadron

Responsible for the flight systems product area. Manages flight systems wind tunnel development and evaluation testing in simulated subsonic, transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic flight envelopes. Serves as primary customer interface and center planning and execution agent for performing the flight systems test mission. Responsible for developing and communicating the strategic roadmap for all aspects and support to the flight systems product area. Responsible for all aspects of the test mission including budgeting, business development, test planning, test execution, and data analysis and reporting. Directs flight systems analysis and evaluation program.
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Test Facility Capabilities

Test Facility Fact Sheets

Operating Location White Oak, Md.

Hypervelocity Wind Tunnel 9, and AEDC site located at White Oak near Silver Spring, Md., provides aerodynamic simulation critical to hypersonic system development and hypersonic vehicle technologies. The facility supports testing for Air Force, Navy, Army, Missile Defense Agency, and NASA programs, as well as advanced hypersonic technologies such as wave-rider-type vehicles, scramjets and transatmospheric space planes. Tunnel 9 is the primary high Mach number and high Reynolds number facility for hypersonic ground testing and the validation of computational simulations for the Air Force and Department of Defense.  Noteworthy advantages over other facilities include a unique storage heater with pressures up to 1,900 atmospheres and temperatures up to 3,650 degrees Rankine.  Axisymmetric contoured nozzles for Mach 7, 8, 10 and 14 operation are also available.

Test Facility Capabilities

Test Facility Fact Sheet

Operating Location Moffett Field, Calif.

The National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex wind tunnel facility located at the Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., is operated by the U.S. Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center. NFAC is a unique facility primarily used for determining aerodynamic characteristics of large-scale and full-scale rotorcraft and powered-lift V/STOL aircraft, as well as testing of wind turbines, parachutes, trucks, and other non-traditional types of testing.  The facility is composed of two large test sections and a common, six-fan drive system.  The 40-by-80 foot wind tunnel circuit is capable of providing test velocities up to 300 knots. The 80-by-120 foot test section is the world's largest wind tunnel and is capable of testing a full size Boeing 737 at velocities up to 100 knots.

NFAC Fact Sheet

HYPERSONIC SYSTEMS TEST BRANCH

The Hypersonic Systems Test Branch leads the development and operation of an advanced complex of hypersonic flight simulation test facilities. Executes the Department of Defense Test and Evaluation Science and Technology portfolio, developing critical test technologies to support high speed and hypersonic testing. Manages Central Test and Evaluation Infrastructure Program funding for Hypersonic T&E Infrastructure Program, which will provide improvement in AEDC’s scramjet engine testing capabilities over five years. Provides ongoing support to hypersonic system ground testing in the Aerodynamic and Propulsion Test Unit, as well as hypersonic flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base.

ICBM DEVELOPMENTAL TEST BRANCH

The Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Developmental Test Branch is the Executing Test Organization (ETO) in support of modernization and life extension for the LGM-30 Minuteman III (MMIII) and development of the next generation Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) ICBM. On July 24, 2015, the Air Force Test Center was designated as the GBSD.

718th Test Squadron

Responsible for the space and missile systems product area. Manages development and evaluation testing of space simulation, hypersonics, rocket propulsion, nuclear weapons effects and missile signature testing. Serves as primary customer interface and center planning and execution agent for performing the space and missile systems test mission. Responsible for developing and communicating the strategic roadmap for all aspects and support to the space and missile product area. Responsible for all aspects of the test mission including budgeting, business development, test planning, test execution and data analysis and reporting. Directs space and missiles analysis and evaluation program. Maintains national missile signatures database.

Test Facility Capabilities

Test Facility Fact Sheets

717th Test Squadron

Responsible for the aeropropulsion systems product area. Manages aeropropulsion system development and evaluation testing in simulated flight environment. Serves as primary customer interface and center planning and execution agent for performing the aeropropulsion systems test mission. Responsible for developing and communicating the strategic roadmap for all aspects and support to the aeropropulsion product area. Responsible for all aspects of the test mission including budgeting, business development, test planning, test execution and data analysis and reporting. Directs aeropropulsion analysis and evaluation program.

Test Facility Fact Sheets