NASA - Flight Research, Test, and Engineering

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Points of Contact

John Del Frate - Director
Advanced Planning and Partnerships
Dryden Flight Research Center
PO Box 273
MS 2701
Edwards, CA 93523
phone: 661-276-3704
email: John.H.DelFrate@nasa.gov

For general information contact us at:
661-276-3100
Ask.DFRC@dfrc.nasa.gov

Capabilities Brochure

cover of capabilities and facilities brochure

Download a printable version of Dryden's Capabilities and Facilities brochure (PDF)

Spinoff 2008

NASA spinoff 2008 magazine cover

Spinoff 2008 highlights NASA’s pursuit of its charter to research, develop, verify and transfer advanced aeronautics, space, and related technologies.

Flight Research, Test, and Engineering

A U.S. Navy E-2C Hawkeye aircraft undergoing loads calibration testing in the Flight Loads Laboratory

Image above: A U.S. Navy E-2C Hawkeye aircraft undergoing loads calibration testing in the Flight Loads Laboratory. Test included the study of engine loading effects on the wing load measurements. (NASA photo).

Six discipline branches — aerodynamics and propulsion; aerostructures; dynamics and controls; flight instrumentation; flight systems; and systems engineering and integration — provide research and project support engineering to Dryden.

In all areas, the expertise covers software, hardware, analysis, modeling, planning and execution of flight, and development of flight or ground test techniques.

Engineering Disciplines

Aerodynamics and Propulsion

NASA F-15B #836 in flight with Quiet Spike attached

The Aerodynamics and Propulsion Branch is part of the Research and Engineering Directorate at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.

Aerostructures

Technicians at NASA Dryden's flight loads lab install a fixture inside an engine nacelle in preparation for major structural loads tests on an E-2C Hawkeye.

The Aerostructures Branch at NASA Dryden is a highly integrated team that covers the breadth of the airframe structures disciplines including static structures, structural dynamics, external and aerot...

Dynamics and Controls

F-18A in flight

The Dynamics and Controls branch specializes in research of flight control systems, components, and methodologies

Flight Instrumentation

Instrumentation hardware installed on an F-18 aircraft.

Dryden’s Flight Instrumentation branch develops and engineers data acquisition systems for research, support, and one-of-a-kind flight platforms.

Flight Systems

F-18 being prepared for avionics check

The Flight Systems Branch is part of the Research and Engineering Directorate at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. The branch is organized in three groups: hardware, software, and systems.

Systems Engineering and Integration

The 2.5-meter infrared telescope in the rear fuselage of NASA's SOFIA flying observatory tracked the star Polaris during characterization tests in March 2008.

Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) is a disciplined approach for the definition, implementation, integration and operations of a system (product or service).

Multimedia Gallery

Orion Ascent Abort Flight Test →

NASA animation of the Orion Module Launch Abort System Ascent Abort Flight Test.
Orion Pad Abort Flight Test →

NASA animation of the Orion Module Launch Abort System Pad Abort Flight Test.
Orion Moment-of-Inertia Tests →

NASA technicians conduct moment-of-inertia tests on the Orion PA-1 crew module.
Orion Weight-and-Balance Test →

Engineers conduct weight-and-balance tests on the Orion PA-1 crew module.
Navy E-2C Structural Loads Tests. →

A U S Navy E-2C Hawkeye undergoing loads calibration tests at Dryden's Flight Loads Laboratory.