They Turned Goals Into Reality

Three flight research projects involving NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center have been cited in NASA's annual "Turning Goals Into Reality" awards program for their contributions toward advancing the technology of aeronautics.

The three projects involving NASA Dryden - Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology, Active Aeroelastic Wing and Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration -- were among 17 projects in the fields of safe and affordable air transportation, growth in critical national industries, enhanced national security, and scientific exploration and discovery that have contributed to society that were honored at the sixth annual Turning Goals Into Reality awards ceremonies July 14. The awards were presented to project participants - including NASA, university and industry researchers -- at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles International Airport outside the nation's capital.

The Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) project team was honored for its contributions in exploring revolutionary aeronautics concepts in the area of remotely operated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology. During its nine-year span that concluded last September, the ERAST project contributed to development of a range of aerodynamic, propulsion, control system and communications technologies that benefited the maturing of a range of high-altitude, long-endurance UAVs. The award was presented to 25 members of the ERAST Alliance who participated in the Dryden-led project, including the four NASA research centers and other government and industry team members.

The Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) project and the Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration project at NASA Dryden shared an award for partnerships that enhance national security with the Abrupt Wing Stall project team headed by NASA Langley Research Center at Hampton (VA).

The AAW project, which is due to begin the second phase of flight tests this fall, was cited for its partnerships with NASA Langley, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Boeing Company. AAW is exploring positive control of lighter-weight flexible wings for maneuvering, a technology that could lead to lighter structures, increasing both fuel efficiency and range or payloads for future military and commercial aircraft.

The Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration (SSBD) last year brought together NASA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, an industry team headed by Northrop Grumman Corp. and several other military agencies to study how the perceived intensity of sonic booms can be lessened by modifying the shape of an aircraft.

NASA Dryden flew its sensor-equipped F-15B research testbed aircraft behind the SSBD test aircraft, a modified F-5E provided by the Navy, to measure its sonic boom characteristics at various distances and orientations. Dryden engineers also recorded the intensity of the sonic boom over-pressures from both the test aircraft and an unmodified F-5E with an elaborate array of ground microphones and sensors. This flight test confirmation of laboratory research could eventually lead to supersonic aircraft with greatly reduced sonic boom characteristics being allowed to fly over land instead of being restricted only to flight over oceans.

"The receipt of these awards is a recognition of the critical role of flight research in NASA's Aeronautics Technology development efforts," commented David McBride, Flight Research Program manager at NASA Dryden. "The credit for the awards belongs to the people who made them possible - NASA's civil service and contractor staff, and our industry partners. Without their contributions this would not be possible."

FMI: www.aeronautics.nasa.gov/events/tgir/2004/index.htm