Изд-во Schiffer
S.Markman & B.Holder - One-of-a-kind research aircraft
One of the variable stability B-26s as it appeared in later life in Calspan markings. This particular aircraft crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in the early 1980s.
This KB-29 was equipped with in icing system mounted on its refueling boom.
The testbed B-52 is shown here in its CCV configuration. It was characterized by its large forward probe and two sets of fuselage-mounted canards. Note the high-visibility paint scheme.
The CCV NB-52E refueling from a KC-135 tanker. Fly-by-wire controls made the aircraft more stable in turbulence, making in-flight refueling much easier.
The special right side pylon located between the fuselage and inboard engine was the mounting location for the many test vehicles carried by the NB-52 (008).
The commercially-developed Pegasus space launch vehicle races away from its NASA NB-52 launch aircraft.
The NASA NB-52 served as the launching aircraft for many space and aeronautical vehicles. Here, it is seen launching the X-15, certainly one of the most-often seen photos of this aircraft.
The X-24 lifting body was one of many vehicles carried aloft by the NB-52 (0008) launching aircraft.
The NB-52 (0003) carrier aircraft is shown carrying an early M2-F2 lifting body test vehicle. This NB-52 is currently on display at Pima County Air Museum, Tucson, Arizona.
This vintage B-52 was modified into a testbed configuration to test the huge TF-39 powerplant for the C-5A Galaxy. The engine was carried on the right inboard pylon.
This particular carrier B-52 (003) was the first of the two testbeds, but was retired in 1969 leaving only one to carry on. Here is shown carrying a later version of the X-15.
The CCV B-52 sits ingloriously at Davis-Montham AFB, awaiting possible future work in 1988.
An almost identical B-52 testbed aircraft was configured to test the engine for the Boeing 747. The JT9D engine was carried in the same inboard rightside position.
The results of 1994 vulnerability testing to study how an internal explosion damages the structure of a large aircraft.
This Boeing 720 transport is used by Pratt & Whitney Canada to carry a number of different propulsion systems.
Either a turboprop or pure jet engine can be mounted on the forward fuselage of this testbed transport.
NASA/Boeing 720 taking off on a test flight prior to the actual crash test.
The Boeing 720 CID testbed aircraft erupts in flames as it slides through the impact site at Edwards Air Force Base, California, the ultimate price a testbed occasionally has to pay. The sequence shows the airplane hitting left wing low, impacting the barriers and tearing off the right wing. It then erupted into a fireball, but the flames from the special fuel quickly died out on their own.
The use of production aircraft for simulation and testbed missions has been carried out for many years. Here, a C-47 assigned to the Air Force Medical Research Laboratory was used in the 1950s for human engineering experiments.
The F-15A ASAT testbed aircraft is seen being mid-air refueled by a KC-135 tanker. The ASAT weapon can be seen mounted beneath the aircrafts fuselage.
The HIDEC F-15 test aircraft was used to carry out flight research on integrated digital electronic flight control systems.
This particular F-15 testbed was easily recognizable from the flashy logo it carried on both sides of its nose.
The F-15 Streak Eagle was a different type of testbed, because it was specifically designed to capture time-to-climb world records, which it did.
This is definitely a unique space missile launching platform. The concept proved successful knocking down a U.S. satellite, but the system would never be fielded operationally.
The F-15 ASAT Program was identified on the F-15A testbed aircraft by this characteristic logo on the tail.
In a similar experiment to the F-16/79, an F-16 was also modified to carry the F101 powerplant. Again, the concept would not be adopted for the F16/101. The brightly-colored aircraft prototype is the middle aircraft in this formation.
The F-16XL is shown on the far right, sitting among a number of different F-16 variant aircraft.
The AFTI/F-16 was also modified into a Close Air Support (CAS) configuration.
The AFTI/F-16 in formation with a T-38 chase aircraft.
The mounting location for the engine-mounted canards is shown here. The program demonstrated advanced maneuver capabilities applicable to future fighters.
The forward canards for the CCV testbed are shown during the fabrication process.
The AFTI/F-16 is one of the most capable research aircraft ever constructed. Begun in the early 1980s time period, the program was still active in the mid-1990s.
The F-16 prototype was the testbed aircraft for the CCV program, and later the FLOTRAK investigations.
Here, the F-16 CCV testbed is employed in its second test program, the FLOTRAK program. The program attempted to develop a system to keep heavily-loaded fighters from sinking into the mud.
This 1980 artist's concept shows the design of the AFTI/F-16 configuration which would follow in two years. The concept incorporated fly-by-wire controls, advanced displays, integrated flight control system, and weapons fire controls.
Designed as a possible third-country fighter, this modified F-16 (known as the F-16/79) carried the J-79 powerplant.
One of the most complicated modifications ever made to a simulator aircraft was the VISTA modification made to this F-16.
Prior to its completion as in-flight simulator, the same aircraft was modified with additional maneuver capabilities in this striking MATV configuration.
With smoke pouring from its smoke generators, the VISTA/MATV aircraft demonstrates its high angle-of-attack capability. With the nozzle deflecting the thrust upward, the high angle of attack ability can be accomplished.
The MATV engine is shown in a test stand demonstrating the extent to which the exhaust can be deflected.
F-16 testbed aircraft fitted with a LANTIRN navigation pod during early testing of the system.
Would you believe this F-80 testbed? This unique testbed investigated the concept ofa prone-lying pilot, hence the forward-located second canopy.
The NF-104 is shown in a zoom climb with the aid of its rocket engine.
The NF-104 research aircraft is now on display at the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base.
Now retired, the Number 826 F-104 was used to test thermal insulation tiles during its final missions.
This pair of NASA F-104 testbed aircraft long performed low L/D flight testing.
You better believe that NASA loved the F-104 as a testbed aircraft. Here the fleet is aloft in formation.
The F-8 Fly-By-Wire testbed was one of a long list ofaircraft investigating this unique technology.
The F-8 Fly-By-Wire testbed aircraft is now on display at NASA Dryden at Edwards Air Force Base.
Two unique F-8 testbeds. The F-8 Fly-By-Wire testbed flies in formation with its F-8 brother, the supercritical wing testbed.
На самолете F-8A SCW в исследовательских целях установили суперкритическое крыло, верхняя поверхность которого выполнена более пологой, а нижняя - более искривленной. Такое крыло исключает появление местных скачков.
The F-8 Supercritical Wing test aircraft in flight. The new wing had a typical airliner-type platform. Note also the fuselage mounted fairings to reduce drag.
The F-8 testbed is now on display at NASA Dryden at Edwards Air Force Base.
The so-called EPAD program used an F/A -18 testbed aircraft to test an electrically-powered activation system. This photo shows the installation details.
This F/A-18 pre-production fighter aircraft was modified for the HARV Program. The program started in 1987 and was continuing into the 1990s. Clearly visible is the paddle actuation system for deflecting engine exhaust.
The capability to maneuver at high angles-of-attack received high attention in the 1990s with the HARV program which was a multi-center NASA program.
A majority of the high angle-of-attack modifications were done on the rear portion of the F/A-18's fuselage as is clearly evident in this photo.
An earlier configuration of the Airborne Laser Program is shown during a flight test.
The "5" in the tail number of this C-135 indicates 1955, which makes this plane, which served as the testbed for the Airborne Laser Program, one of the oldest of the type.
This particular aircraft was easily identifiable from its pair of domes on top of the fuselage.
The Airborne Laser Program testbed aircraft now resides quietly in the Air Force Museum.
This KC-135A testbed aircraft tested new engine systems and was the ABIT test aircraft during its career.
This KC-135 icing aircraft lets loose a spray of icing fluid to check out the trailing aircraft.
The LASERCOM modification of this C-135 testbed aircraft was used to transmit data between satellites and ground and airborne users.
The interestingly-painted fuselage of this C-135 participated in the HAVE LACE laser communications program.
The configuration of the icing mechanism on this KC-135 is clearly visible in this photo.
One of the most famous KC-135 testbed aircraft was called the "Weightless Wonder" and served to train astronauts on the effects of weightlessness.
This artist's concept shows the installation of wingtip winglets on a KC-135 testbed aircraft. The fuel-saving concept was never incorporated on the Air Force fleet, but it's used extensively on the commercial airline fleet.
The SR-71 was used for many years as a high-flying reconnaissance aircraft, but when it was recently retired, three of the Black Birds were transferred to NASA for research work as flying testbeds.
One of the earliest testbed aircraft to investigate fly-by-wire capabilities was this B-47. Presently, this plane is displayed in the Air Force Museum where it has been repainted in operational colors.
At the completion of this program (Fly-By-Wire Research/Demonstration) the aircraft appeared as shown here. Note the glass window in the nose and the air inlets under the tail still on the aircraft today.
This F-14A testbed was modified with the so-called Aileron-Rudder Interconnect System which investigated new high angle-of-attack flight techniques.
P-2 Variable Stability Aircraft in flight. The aircraft performed airborne simulation and research.
NT-33 performing mid-air refueling from a Navy KA-3 tanker in the mid-1970s.
This Navy A-5A Vigilante was used by NASA to simulate approaches for the ill-fated American Supersonic Transport program.
This Navy A-6A bomber was modified in the late 1970s time period to simulate low-speed approaches. The modified trailing edges are not visible, but the stall fences are.
The modifications to this testbed aircraft can be seen under the twin engine exhausts. The concept was to trap bleed air from the exhausts and then direct the air through special slots on the trailing edge of each wing.
The DIGITAC Program used the Corsair II fighter as the testbed aircraft. Besides the high-visibility marking and the test pod being carried, the A-7 appears to be quite normal.
During this phase of the DIGITAC Program, the A-7 testbed aircraft had an interesting test pattern on the side of its fuselage.
Production of one of the two YF-7F prototypes at LTV Aircraft Products Group.
Для улучшения маневренности YA-7F перед крылом смонтировали небольшие наплывы. Доработка закрылков позволила снизить посадочную скорость (примерно на 12 км/ч) и сократить дистанцию пробега примерно на 20%. 1989г.
The YA-7A took on a new design grace. Here's a shot of the prototype during flight testing.
Increased maneuverability was the goal of this A-7 testbed modification with the addition of leading and trailing edge flaps.
A Corsair II, like this operational U.S. Navy version, was selected by the Air Force for significant modification as the YA-7F Prototype Fighter. Air Force versions were used for the actual modifications.
This A-7D testbed, along with seven other operational versions, was fitted with composite material outer wing panels.
One of the first investigations into the benefits of low L/D flight was accomplished by this F-102 delta-wing fighter.
The Lockheed HTTB testbed developed many new technologies for tactical airlift concepts.
Standard C-130 instrument panel appears to be a montage of instruments compared to the RAMTlP cockpit design.
The actual RAMTIP cockpit.
В исследовательских целях использовалось несколько самолетов, обозначенных как JF-100C
NASA modified an F-100 Super Sabre to the JF-100 during the 1960s to test a number of flight regimes. It's shown here on the lake bed at Edwards Air Force base.
Rough Rider was the name given to a program for turbulence testing. The logo can be seen on the tail of the F-100 testbed aircraft.
A special probe, with sideslip and angle-of-attack sensors, was carried on the forward section of the F-100 turbulence test aircraft.
This particular F-100 testbed aircraft was used during the 1960s in wind turbulence testing.
From the outside, the Tu-154M in-flight simulator appears similar to an Aeroflot airliner.
Tu-154M inflight simulator cockpit. Note the heads-up display, CRT display, experimental control yoke and side stick.
NT-33 over Edwards Air Force Base on a test pilot instruction flight in the mid-1980s.
One of the unique modifications to the NT-33 was the installation of tip-tank mounted speed brakes.
Another aircraft model, this time an F-5, is carried by the Bell 204 helicopter.
The C-130 Gunship was developed using a C-130 testbed aircraft at the 4950th Test Wing at Wright Patterson AFB.
This photo shows the mini-gun and cannon which are located above, and behind the landing gear, respectively.
Shown here on the C-130 Gunship testbed are the set of Gatling Guns located just ahead of the landing gear fairing. This aircraft can be viewed at the Air Force Museum.
If you look closely on the wing, you can pick out the supercritical airfoil shape.
After completion of the TACT Program, gloves were installed to investigate natural laminar flow.
The AFTI/F-111A at Edwards prior to first flight. The test programme is managed by the USAF’s Flight Dynamics Laboratory, part of the Aeronautical Systems Division's Air Force Wright Aeronautical Laboratories (AFWAL), in collaboration with NASA's Dryden Flight Research Facility (DFRF).
This view of the AFTI F-111 shows its leading edges smoothly deflected and the trailing edges slightly deflected.
UTSI Navion on the ground. Note the wing-mounted angle-of-attack and side slip sensors.
The UTSI Navion in flight. Note the tuffs of yarn on the starboard side-force surface to study airflow.
A highly-modified Boeing 737 was designed as the Terminal-Configured Vehicle (TCV) which contained a complete second cockpit within the fuselage.
A radar is contained under the radome of the Terminal-Configured Vehicle (TCV).
The NASA Langley organization has a number of testbed aircraft including a Cessna 402B, 172 Skyhawk, T-34C, PA-28RT, and Learjet.
The T-34 performed laminar control studies in its tenure at NASA Langley.
The YF-17 served as a prototype during competition with the YF-16 in the Air Force Lightweight Fighter competition. The YF-17 aircraft lost that competition, but it would then serve as the testbed for the Navy F/A-18 fighter.
An artist's concept of the F-18 Hornet fighter that would evolve from the YF-17 testbed prototype.
The ATLAS pod appears similar to a belly-mounted external fuel tank.
In a joint U.S./Canadian test program, this XC-8A was modified with an air cushion system for landings on all types of terrain. Note the wingtip floats for water tests.
The XC-8A testbed aircraft during maintenance at Wright Patterson AFB. The air cushion landing system and the auxiliary turbine under the right wing root are clearly visible.
This Skyhawk testbed has been serving since 1972. It's shown here carrying wing tufting, leading edge glove and twin instrumentation booms.
The GPAS aircraft, early in its career, prior to the addition of its fuselage-mounted pylon.
GPAS aircraft performing laminar flow studies. Notice that the wing-mounted fuel tanks have been removed.
The GPAS with a scale model unducted fan mounted on the fuselage pylon. Also note the instrumentation boom mounted below the nose.
Empire Test Pilot School's variable stability ASTRA Hawk, with the older variable stability Basset in the background. The number "1" on the vertical tail is just about the only external feature distinguishing this aircraft from the school's other Hawk aircraft.
Expandable tire program. C-131 landing with expandable/deflatable tires.
This Bell 204 NASA helicopter is used as a carrier testbed aircraft, shown here carrying a model of the X-29 research aircraft.
It might not look much like the F-16 from which it was derived, but the bat-appearing F-16XL started from a standard F-16 production aircraft.
In 1993, NASA used one of the F-16XL testbed aircraft to support the agency's High Speed Research (HSR) program. For the test, the craft received a dramatic new black and gold paint scheme.
This NASA F/A-18, specially modified to test the newest and most advanced system technologies, on its first flight in May 1993, at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California
The F/A-18 SRA aircraft evaluates technologies that will benefit both civilian and military aircraft.
Other that the external markings, there is nothing to identify this F/A-18 from its operational brothers.
The Strike Eagle Demonstrator took on several looks, shown here in complete camouflage paint.
A production F-15B was modified to serve as the demonstrator for the F-15E Strike Eagle shown here with a full air-to-ground ordnance load.
This F-15B was initially modified to the IFFC configuration.
There was no mistaking the IFFC-configured F-15B which carried this distinct logo on the tail.
The final configuration of this testbed with the so-called ICAAS program. The configuration could not be identified externally by any distinctive markings. The ICAAS program was canceled before completion.
The F-15 STOL/MTD is shown under construction at the McDonnell Douglas facility at St. Louis.
There was no missing the patriotic paint scheme of the F-15 STOL/MTD testbed aircraft.
Самолет Agile Eagle предназначался для действий с ВПП длиной не более 305 м в сложных метеоусловиях с использованием ПГО, сопел с изменением вектора тяги и реверсом.
Detail of the aircraft's unique maneuverable propulsion system is visible in this overhead view.
This head-on view of the F-15 STOL/MTD provides a great view of the engine-mounted front canards which provide greater maneuverability capability for the aircraft.
The same 77-166 F-15B was modified from the IFFC configuration to the ABICS configuration. The IFFC tail identification was removed and replaced with the original Edwards tail marking.
The two-dimensional nozzles in full-open position.
An artist's concept from early in the program showing how all operational F-15 STOL/MTD might look.
A strange new aircraft to serve as a testbed aircraft is one of the YF-23 prototype fighters which will be used in loads testing. It's shown here in its roll-out.
This photo shows the pair of YF-23 prototypes just after they were removed from storage. One of the craft would eventually be used to study strain gauge loads calibration techniques. The other, for the time being, will remain in storage.
A T-37, such as the one shown here, served as a prototype for several different attack versions of this aircraft.
Экспериментальный самолет F-4CCV
This F-4 testbed aircraft started life as the YRF-4 prototype before being converted into a number of other flight control test configurations.
The venerable testbed carried the "Fly-By-Wire" nomenclature throughout its many programs.
The PACT (Precision Aircraft Control Technology) Program was directed toward improvement in combat maneuvers in future fighter aircraft.
The Survivable Flight Control System (SFCS) modification to the F-4 testbed addressed the development of fly-by-wire technology. The testbed was characterized by flashy full fuselage-length "racing stripes."
The venerable testbed, possibly the most-modified testbed ever, now resides in a position ofhonor at the Air Force Museum. It's certainly deserved.
The Fly-By-Wire F-4 testbed flairs out on a final approach at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
The Shadow in-flight simulator is shown in a typical low-altitude mission profile.
The extra cockpit allows the Shadow in-flight simulator to study single-cockpit helicopter operations.
The Shadow evaluation cockpit features dual CRT displays and experimental control sticks.
Calspan Learjet number two is easily distinguished by its additional two windows.
The PA-30 Twin Commanche served since the 1960s as a general support testbed.
The long-standing NASA F-106 testbed on a test flight. Note the black appendage on the top of the rear fuselage performing some unknown test function. Also note the lack of military markings and the civilian registration number on the aft fuselage of this NASA testbed aircraft.
This busy USAF F-106 testbed was involved in many programs, including an early Integrated Fire Flight Control (IFFC) program, and the fitting of a M61-A1 Gatling Gun on the bottom of the fuselage.
The LSRA Convair 990 taxis from the NASA Dryden facility. Note the taxiway behind the vertical tail and the rocket engine lest rigs located on the mountain.
A close-up view of the LSRA shuttle landing gear installation.
This early model C-141 transport was modified for the Advanced Radar Test Bed (ARTB) and could be fitted with several different noses from current aircraft.
Shuttle Training Aircraft performing a shuttle-type steep approach. Note the side-force generator located under the fuselage which was eventually removed.
ATTAS in-flight simulator with flaps extended in order to produce direct lift.
The ATTAS in-flight simulator was built from a VFW-614 twin-jet transport.
This particular F-5D, which was flown by Neil Armstrong, and is now on display in front of the Neil Armstrong Museum at Wapakoneta, Ohio, just north of Dayton.
This is one of two F5D-1 Skylancers modified by NASA for research operations. The aircraft was involved with simulations of DynaSoar landings.
This photo shows the EC-18B ARIA configuration. The ARIA concept was developed in 1968.
The ARIA modification is the most recognizable testbed aircraft in the world. A number of Boeing 707s and KC-135s have been modified into EC-18s and EC-135s. This particular version is an EC-18 aircraft.
This Cessna 402B testbed has performed a number of different test missions. It has been at NASA Langley since 1982.
The X-21A was the only "X" aircraft that wasn't built from scratch. Two of them were built from a pair of B-66 bombers.
Not all testbeds end up gloriously. One of the X-21A testbeds ended up deserted on the desert.
It might look a lot like a World War II P-51 fighter, but this testbed aircraft was developed from the old fighter for modern counterinsurgency missions.
The major difference in the "old and new" Mustang was the powerplant, which was changed to a turboprop for the Mustang Enforcer version.
The OPEN SKIES C-135 testbed aircraft is the newest version of the model for the 1990s time period. The mission of this sophisticated aircraft was to provide aerial observation to support an international treaty.
This F-5E testbed aircraft tested a composite material landing gear strut in 1987. This particular F-5E was a member of the USAF Aggressor Squadron, another example ofa test being accomplished as a part of the normal operational mission.
The C-131H TlFS in-flight simulator is one of the most recognizable of the production-turned-research aircraft. The C-131 is highly instrumented and carries a low-mounted front nose.
TIFS aircraft on the ground at Kelly Air Force Base in 1985.
The TlFS' simulation nose certainly makes this a unique one-of-a-kind aircraft.
With radome installed, TlFS is used to teach avionics testing.
A highly-instrumented F-4 testbed was tested to determine how much surface roughness the plane could operate from. The program was called "Have Bounce."
This Learjet performed laminar flow experiments. There are several portions of unpainted skin sections, not an unusual appearance on testbed aircraft.