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16T Pitch Boom reactivated to support wind tunnel tests

Aaron Blaser and Christian Morris, outside machinists, assist in the reactivation of the 16T Pitch Boom. (Photo by Rick Goodfriend)
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16T Pitch Boom reactivated to support wind tunnel tests

The Pitch Boom at the AEDC 16-foot transonic wind tunnel (16T) was recently reactivated. This model support system is used in conjunction with a roll mechanism to provide a combined pitch and roll movement. (Photo by Rick Goodfriend)
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16T project team determines more efficient process for disconnect panel fabrication

This is an example of a new disconnect panel for the 16-foot transonic wind tunnel (16T) Test Article Control System (TACS) and Data Acquisition System (DAS). One panel would usually take at least a month or two to complete in-house for $1,300 but is now being completed for $300 in just two weeks. (Photo provided)
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16T project team determines more efficient process for disconnect panel fabrication

Terry Rayfield, ATA Senior Controls Engineer, at right, and Dale Shultz, instrument technician, work on putting terminal strips into one of the new disconnect panels for the Propulsion Wind Tunnel facility 16-foot transonic wind tunnel (16T). The disconnect panels, which are part of the 16T Test Article Control System (TACS) and Data Acquisition System (DAS), are used to provide a clean interface between system input/output hardware and field devices. (Photo provided)
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2018 marks golden anniversary of AEDC 4-foot transonic wind tunnel

Engineer David Anderson inspect the 1/20-scale model of an F-15E Strike Eagle Aircraft and a sting-mounted Small Diameter Bomb during a break in the ongoing store separation test for the weapon’s development phase trials in the 4-foot transonic wind tunnel at Arnold Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rick Goodfriend)
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2018 marks golden anniversary of AEDC 4-foot transonic wind tunnel

Marine Corps Harrier Jump Jet store separation tests were conducted in 1981 in the 4-foot transonic wind tunnel at Arnold Air Force Base. By testing separation of rockets, bombs, and fuel tanks (stores) on model aircraft in wind tunnels at AEDC information can be gained to qualify the weapon/aircraft configuration. This saves flight testing and sometimes aircraft and crews as stores released in some configuration/flight conditions can be forced by aerodynamic pressures back to the host aircraft causing damage or loss of the aircraft. (AEDC photo)
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A new capability

National Full Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) Test Engineer Al Lizak surveys the large rotor test apparatus test rig prior to tunnel. NFAC recently reached its first major milestone–that of achieving full operational capability for rotocraft testing. A Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) helicopter is scheduled this spring to be the first test with this capability since the facility reopened in 2006. (Photo by Dominic Hart)
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A-10 "Warthog" testing in 16-T

A model of an A-10 Thunderbolt II, more commonly known as “The Warthog” due to its unique shape, recently underwent a pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) test in Arnold Engineering Development Complex’s (AEDC) 16-foot transonic wind tunnel. PSP was used to obtain surface pressure data on the model. The photo above shows a rear view of the A-10 model during testing in 16T. The A-10 is the only U.S. Air Force aircraft designed to be specifically used for close air support. The aircraft is notorious for its maneuverability at low speeds and low altitudes and its accurate weapons delivery.
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Acoustic measreuments

From left, Chris Barkley, Boeing’s lead mechanic on the test and Oscar Joson, NFAC wind tunnel mechanic, conduct a pre-flight blade inspection. (Photo by Jeff Johnson)
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Adjustments

From left, Dennis Odear, Aerospace Testing Alliance outside machinist at Arnold Engineering Development Center, Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., makes an adjustment to the tailless aircraft model in the four-foot transonic wind tunnel while Brant Maines, the Lockheed Martin Corp. program manager on the test, watches. (Photo by Rick Goodfriend)
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AEDC and AFRL collaborate to make advances in hypersonic technology

The first image shows the global heating data acquired on the windward surface of the vehicle during a continuous pitch sweep with both inlets started. In the second image the color changes represent the global heating data acquired on the windward surface of the vehicle during a continuous pitch sweep with the starboard inlet unstarted.
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AEDC and AFRL collaborate to make advances in hypersonic technology

The first image shows the global heating data acquired on the windward surface of the vehicle during a continuous pitch sweep with both inlets started. In the second image the color changes represent the global heating data acquired on the windward surface of the vehicle during a continuous pitch sweep with the starboard inlet unstarted.
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AEDC Blade Shop provides composite material repair

An AEDC craftsman applies adhesive to bond foam seal to a spacer for one of the axial flow compressors used to run the large wind tunnels at AEDC. A two-man Blade Shop has been heading up the repair of the rotor blades and spacers for the axial flow compressors in the AEDC Propulsion Wind Tunnel facility. (Photo provided)
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AEDC Blade Shop provides composite material repair

To show its size, an AEDC craftsman stands beside compressor blades in the bell mouth of one of the Propulsion Wind Tunnel facility compressors. The Complex has a Blade Shop that leads repair of the rotor blades and spacers for the compressors in PWT. (Photo provided)
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AEDC breaks new ground in improvements to U.S. long-range strike capabilities

This five-percent scale model of the F-15E Strike Eagle and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) was used to conduct store separation testing in Arnold Engineering Development Center’s four-foot transonic wind tunnel.
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AEDC heralds successful first flight of X-51 Waverider

Carson McAfee, ATA outside machinist and foreman, makes a control surface change to the sub-scale model of the X-51 WaveRider during a break in aerodynamic testing at AEDC’s von Kármán Gas Dynamics Facility in 2006 . (File photo)
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AEDC Hypervelocity Wind Tunnel 9 hits 4,000-run mark

Hypervelocity Wind Tunnel 9 staff looks on as the test crew executes run 4000. (Photo by Arnold Collier)
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AEDC lab creates and installs sensors for aerothermal measurement during tests

Temperature sensors and transducers are fabricated and installed on test models in the Aero-thermal Measurements Lab (ATML) at AEDC. ATML staff Randall Moon, Annette Painter and Stuart Coulter, pictured left to right, view heat flux sensors and model hardware through microscopes used in the lab. (Photo by Rick Goodfriend)
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AEDC lab creates and installs sensors for aerothermal measurement during tests

This is an example of one of the models instrumented with heat flux sensors in the Aero-thermal Measurements Lab. The lab supports testing of thermal protection systems, material sample ablation, boundary layer transition and roughness effects, and protuberance heating. (Photo by Rick Goodfriend)
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AEDC machinists create B-52 in Model Shop

Machinist Derrick Burton hand-works or “blends” around the pod where an engine will be attached to the B-52 model. (Photo by Philip Lorenz)
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