On the Horizon

  • NF-15B Intelligent Flight Control System aircraft banking over Rogers Dry Lake Bed at Edwards.

    Intelligent Flight Control System

    Dryden's NF-15B Intelligent Flight Control System flight research project seeks to exploit revolutionary technological breakthroughs in aircraft flight controls that can efficiently optimize aircraft performance in normal and failure conditions.

  • NASA's Boeing 747SP SOFIA airborne observatory soars over a bed of puffy clouds during a checkout flight.

    The SOFIA

    NASA and the German Space Agency are developing the Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy - or SOFIA - as a world-class airborne observatory that will complement the Hubble, Spitzer, Herschel and James Webb space telescopes and major Earth-based telescopes.

  • Orion CEV undergoing tests at Dryden Flight Research Center

    Orion

    Dryden plays a significant role in the development of next-generation NASA spacecraft as part of the Constellation program.

  • Blended Wing Body aircraft in flight over California desert

    Blended Wing Body Aircraft

    Dryden and The Boeing Co. are expanding the flight envelope for the X-48B blended wing body research aircraft.

  • NF-15B banking over California desert as it approaches Dryden Flight Research Center

    Sonic Boom Research

    Flight tests in support of the Lift and Nozzle Change Effects on Tail Shock, or LaNCETS, project are being conducted at Dryden.

  • Ikhana in flight during California Wildfire mission.

    Ikhana

    The Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility opened for business in 2007 at the former Rockwell International/North American Aircraft production facility in Palmdale.

  • DAOF officials looking over plans and blueprints

    DAOF

    The Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility opened for business in 2007 at the former Rockwell International/North American Aircraft production facility in Palmdale.

  • Global Hawk being towed out of Hangar 4801 at DFRC

    Global Hawk

    Dryden acquired two Northrop Grumman Global Hawk Advanced Concept Technology Demon-stration aircraft when the U.S. Air Force transferred the assets in September 2007.