NFAC helicopter team awarded for testing efforts Published Oct. 3, 2008 By Janae' Daniels AEDC/PA ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. -- A checkout test team at Arnold Engineering Development Center's (AEDC) National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex in Moffet Field, Calif., was awarded the San Francisco Chapter of the American Helicopter Society 2008 award for Outstanding Contribution to the Powered-Lift Field Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL). The award was in recognition of the multi-service and industry team who completed a five-month detailed check-out of the UH-60 rotor on the Large Rotor Test Apparatus (LRTA) in the NFAC wind tun¬nel. The test enabled the first forward flight rotor test in the facility since 2003. As quoted on the award, "Your success represents a major milestone in the revital-ization of VTOL & powered-lift research capability in the United States." According to Jeff Johnson, Jacobs Technology test director at NFAC, the UH-60 LRTA checkout test was the culmination of a two-year refurbishment and reactivation effort of the facility by the Air Force and AEDC. The test was completed in January. Johnson said a core team of approximately 16 members from Jacobs Technology, NASA and Army conducted the test, but a support team of more than 40 additional members made major contributions in the planning, development and installation phases.