Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
    • A-E
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
    • F-L
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
    • M-S
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
    • T-Z
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    • March 2025
    • Dec 2024/Jan 2025
    • Showcase 2025
    • September 2024
    • June 2024
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Press Releases
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Subscribe to magazine Subscribe to email newsletter Media Pack
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    1. March 2025
    2. Dec 2024/Jan 2025
    3. Showcase 2025
    4. September 2024
    5. June 2024
    6. March 2024
    7. Archive Issues
    8. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    19th March 2025

    In this issue: March 2025

    Online Magazines By Ben Sampson
    Recent

    In this issue: March 2025

    19th March 2025
    contents and front cover of magazine

    In this issue: December / January 2025

    19th December 2024
    Showcase 2025

    In this issue – Showcase 2025

    6th November 2024
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Press Releases
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
Simulation & Training

Flight simulation test facility expanding test envelope

Anthony JamesBy Anthony James28th June 20173 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email
Graph

The AEDC 16ft transonic wind tunnel, or 16T, at the Propulsion Wind Tunnel facility at Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee, is expanding its test envelope by achieving conditions previously not reached in the facility, and as a result, will be able to support more test customers.

This expansion – known as notch operations and meant to fill in a portion of the gap from 0.3 Mach to 0.6 Mach – was achieved in April of this year by modifying the total pressure capability of 16T.

The overall notch region represents a flight envelope expansion of 10% of the current test envelope. The test team was able to explore and achieve 60-70% of that region, as the particular focus of this test was running the wind tunnel with M2 and M3 motors at variable revolutions per minute, speeds at ranges from 350 to 600 or sub synchronous mode.

Expanding the envelope of 16T is part of the Improve Transonic Plant Capability Test Investment Planning and Programming project, or IMTPC, which is being headed by Capital Investments Project Manager Artious Walker. The IMTPC project is providing an opportunity to modernize 16T by funding the expertise needed for development efforts.

“With the new contract structure at Arnold AFB, having a Technical and Management Advisory Services (TMAS) allows IMTPC and similar projects the ability to find the skillsets required for such development projects,” Walker said.

“The goals of IMTPC are to increase sustainability through reliability, availability and maintainability; reduce test cost through efficiency improvements; restore lost envelope to support immediate transonic testing needs; and provide capability expansion in support of next generation aero-vehicles.”

Walker explained that in the early 2000s the M2 and M3 motors for the Propulsion Wind Tunnel facility (PWT), were upgraded giving Arnold AFB the potential to explore the notch region, but at that time, no test teams had attempted to perform notch runs in 16T due to anticipated risks and lack of the ability to dedicate the personnel. But he later gained TMAS support for this effort, mentioning specifically help from Mike Mills, Douglas Miller and Shelby Moorman.

“There was a belief that running in the notch region would cause issues or damage to the C1 compressor, wind tunnel and possibly the test object because of the anticipated vibrations,” Walker said. “However, we’ve been able to work out any problems.”

The test teams mitigated the risks by adding additional instrumentation to monitor aerodynamic flow impacts while exploring the unused region.

According to Walker, this took funding as well as careful planning and implementation of the instrumentation to the C1 compressor because they did not want to jeopardize the compressor or put the 16T test schedule at risk.

“During planning, the test team developed a strategic plan if excessive vibrations, pressures or strains were discovered while running in the notch region, and in doing so, we are now able to provide even more test options to our current and future test customers at 16T,” Walker said.

AEDC PWT engineer Mike Mills led the test team, which included plant operations engineer John Wright and several others. The group monitored control room parameters as the test progressed from one tunnel set condition to the next.

Mills reported that the notch run took place successfully with no major problems.

June 28, 2017

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleFirst qualification test carried out for Orbital ATK launch abort motor
Next Article New aerospace concepts: Is testing ready for them?
Anthony James

Related Posts

digital twins
News

Belfast digital twin centre opens for business

6th May 20252 Mins Read
Honeywell's test aircraft
News

ITPS launches stay-at-home hybrid training course for flight test teams

24th March 20252 Mins Read
Bristell B23 Energic aircraft
Electric & Hybrid

H55 and Aerovolt partner on electric aircraft chargers and training

23rd January 20253 Mins Read
Latest Posts

Drive System Design opens second UK high-speed eMachine test facility

23rd May 2025

dSPACE expands Scalexio platform for HIL testing

23rd May 2025

AIR cargo eVTOL completes night flight testing

22nd May 2025
Supplier Spotlights
Our Social Channels
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Getting in Touch
  • Subscribe To Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Meet the Team
  • Media Pack
Related Topics
  • Aircraft Interiors
  • Business Jet Interiors
FREE WEEKLY NEWS EMAIL!

Get the 'best of the week' from this website direct to your inbox every Wednesday

© 2023 Mark Allen Group Ltd | All Rights Reserved
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.