Research aircraft gathered at the Armstrong Research Center

NASA has relocated major research aircraft to the Armstrong Flight Research Center to expand its aviation research capabilities. The Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, formerly part of NASA's Glenn Research Center, will use the Armstrong Research Center located in Edwards, California as its new base to support flight research at the agency level.

The PC-12 is an aircraft introduced by the Glenn Research Center in 2022 for advanced technology development. In the future, we plan to continue to support research at the Glenn Research Center while also contributing to the expansion of flight research capabilities at other institutions.

“Armstrong is adept at deployable aircraft operating concepts, where aircraft are deployed to other parts of the country or overseas to perform specific missions,” said Darren Cole, flight demonstration capability project manager at the Armstrong Research Center. “We will continue our extensive flight research with the PC-12.”

Proven asset that has even performed communication experiments on the International Space Station

PC-12 was operated at the Glenn Research Center for four years and proved its value as a valuable research asset. Representatively, it supported communication relay experiments with the International Space Station (ISS). Using a portable laser terminal, a 4K video stream was transmitted to the space station via a terrestrial network and satellite, and the space station was also able to return information. This system demonstrated the ability to effectively penetrate clouds.

In addition, PC-12 was used to study a surveillance system that can manage air traffic demand of air taxis flying over cities in the future urban air mobility (UAM) era.

PC-12, which uses the Armstrong Research Center as its new base, plans to support various research within NASA, industry, and academia in the future. Technology development research led by the Glenn Research Center and conducted in conjunction with the Glenn Aerospace Communications Facility continues.

T-34 training aircraft joins, research aircraft power expands

In February, a T-34 aircraft belonging to the Glenn Research Center also arrived at the Armstrong Research Center and is being evaluated for its usability. The T-34 can be used by NASA pilots to conduct flight research or receive PC-12 pilot training while the PC-12 is undergoing maintenance or modification.

Manager Cole explained, “The design of the T-34 enables future pod-equipped flight research,” adding, “Ideas being developed by researchers within NASA or through external partnerships can be flight tested quickly and at low cost.”

The T-34 from the Glenn Research Center joins another T-34 already deployed to the Armstrong Research Center. With its research aircraft fleet expanding, including the recent addition of two F-15 fighter jets, the Armstrong Research Center is solidifying its position as the home of NASA's innovative flight research and test projects.