Tour group from Huntsville sees world-class testing facilities first hand

  • Published
  • By Philip Lorenz III
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --  Twenty-five engineers from the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in Huntsville, Ala., had an opportunity recently to learn about the world's largest complex of ground testing facilities.

"The objective was to get a firsthand look at the equipment being used at AEDC and so that we could better understand how MDA benefits from the facilities," said Ryan Franey, a general engineer with MDA. "The tour also increased awareness about the facility's line of work so that MDA employees will be able to call upon AEDC for help with future testing needs."

For Kenneth Delano, a senior systems engineer with MDA's global deployment division, the tour of AEDC was his first time to visit the facilities.

Delano said Arnold AFB provides unique ground testing capabilities to their customers.

"AEDC brings some early data and test realism to our programs," he said. "A realistic ground test is a much more efficient way to refine designs and find and fix problems that otherwise might not be found until flight test."

Prior to this visit, he thought AEDC was primarily comprised of wind tunnels.

"I learned about the environmental chambers, static motor test facility and other facilities I was not aware of," he said. "AEDC is a national treasure with some unique facilities that would be costly to duplicate. The test facility managers are very knowledgeable and experienced.

"[Our] primary objective was to understand the capabilities that AEDC has and how they currently support MDA or could support MDA in the future," he said. "[And our] secondary objective was to give new employees the opportunity to visit a government-owned test facility and gain an appreciation for the unique test facilities."

Dennis Greer, an MDA test resource manager, said it is important for engineers like him and others to know what resources are available to organizations like the one he represents.

"The principle reason [for our visit] was to get MDA personnel familiar with AEDC test capabilities so that future testing may be directed to AEDC," he said. "AEDC has some unique test capabilities that are only available here. AEDC has the potential to support several aspects of MDA test needs."

Ryan Franey, a general engineer with MDA, acknowledged that before the tour he wasn't aware of AEDC's existence despite its proximity to Huntsville.

"I also learned a lot about the nature of the tests being performed at AEDC and the extent of the facility's testing capabilities," he said. "AEDC left a good impression on me. The members of the workforce at AEDC were more than happy to show us around and answer our questions about technical details. The leadership welcomed us and appears to have AEDC steered in the right direction."

Asked about the significance of AEDC to the mission of the agency his group represents, Franey said, "AEDC is important to the MDA program because it provides valuable testing opportunities that are capable of validating models. It supports MDA/AB (Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System) through its wind tunnel testing of SM-3 missile models and the kill vehicle impact tests."

For Franey, who is 24, the opportunity to see AEDC's ground testing facilities first hand appealed to both junior engineers like him and more senior professionals in his group.

"For engineers who are starting their careers and those who have been in the agency for a while, the visit gave us all a chance to see the testing equipment first hand and ask questions that furthered our understanding of the principals behind the machinery and test vehicles.

"Before the visit, the testing apparatuses were just things that I've read about in books. The visit really created a better appreciation for the work being done at AEDC."

For Greer, the trip to AEDC brought back a lot of memories.

"I was active duty at AEDC from 1986 to 1991 and worked in most of the facilities except J-6," he recalled. "This was a reorientation tour for me. So, I essentially updated my knowledge."

Greer said regardless of an engineer's level of experience, more knowledge is always better than less.

"For the people at the beginning of their careers they get an idea what is available and as they advance they will remember the tour," he said. "For the seasoned employee, he or she may be able to direct tests sooner than the younger people because of his increased responsibilities."

Delano said he was particularly interested in what his group learns from visits to places like AEDC.

"Regardless of whether you are just beginning your engineering career or have years of experience, understanding the capabilities AEDC has helps expand our engineering knowledge, and adds to our awareness of capabilities and tools that can be applied to better perform our engineering duties," he said.