AEDC engineer recognized for technical paper on revolutionary hypersonic test capability

  • Published
  • By Deidre Ortiz
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. --  Jonathan Osborne, aeronautical engineer for Mira Facilities, has been selected as a recipient of the Best Paper Award presented by the Airbreathing Propulsion Subcommittee of the Joint Army Navy NASA Air Force Interagency Propulsion Committee.

The award recognizes the technical paper he co-authored entitled, "Morphing Ceramic Components for Hypersonic Ground Test Facilities" presented at the JANNAF 34th APS meeting in Albuquerque, N.M.

Osborne is leading the MORPH project at AEDC which aims to validate morphing ceramic materials for High Speed/Hypersonic ground test applications including variable Mach number nozzles and direct-connect distortion generation devices.
"The ultimate goal of this project is to provide a stepping stone on the path to being able to "fly the mission" during ground tests when developing hypersonic propulsion technologies," he said.

The MORPH project is funded through the High Speed Systems Test Technology Area under the Test Resource Management Center's Test and Evaluation / Science and Technology Program.

"It's exciting that the MORPH project team is being recognized for this important contribution to the hypersonic community," Osborne said.

According to Ed Tucker, executing agent and AEDC branch chief for the HSST Program, the construction of the MORPH device has been completed and project team is now installing it in the Air Force Research Laboratory Research Cell 22 for validation testing in March.  He noted that upon successful demonstration of the technology, the MORPH hardware will be transitioned to a DOD Test and Evaluation facility for use with scramjet propulsion development.

Tucker applauds Osborne on his recent recognition and for the success of the MORPH project.

"This is a revolutionary new T&E capability enhancement and Jon has contributed greatly toward its development."

Osborne adds, "I look forward to putting the hardware through its paces in RC 22 in the very near future, so stay tuned for the results."

-AEDC-