Two retired U.S. Air Force F-15 jets join NASA Armstrong to support supersonic flight research

NASA Science
NASA Science
7h ago
Two retired U.S. Air Force F-15 jets from the Oregon Air National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing joined NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center to support supersonic flight research, including the Quesst mission’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft.
Two retired U.S. Air Force F-15 jets join NASA Armstrong to support supersonic flight research
A What happened
Two retired U.S. Air Force F-15 jets transitioned from military service to NASA’s flight research fleet at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The aircraft will support supersonic flight research for NASA’s Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities Project, including testing for the Quesst mission’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft. One F-15 will return to the air as an active NASA research aircraft, and the second will be used for parts to support long-term fleet sustainment. Troy Asher said the aircraft will support X-59 data collection and chase plane capabilities through the life of the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project.
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Key insights

  • 1

    One aircraft is designated for flight research and one for sustainment: NASA will return one of the two F-15s to the air as an active research aircraft and use the second for parts to support long-term fleet sustainment.

  • 2

    F-15 capabilities are used to support X-59 testing needs: The F-15s are intended to provide data collection and chase plane capabilities for the X-59 and to operate in high-speed, high-altitude flight-testing environments.

  • 3

    NASA plans modifications for high-altitude operations: The F-15 that will fly for NASA will receive modifications similar to existing NASA F-15s to support pilot comfort up to 60,000 feet.

Takeaways

NASA Armstrong added two retired F-15s from the Oregon Air National Guard to support X-59 quiet supersonic research, with one aircraft slated to fly and the other to provide parts for sustainment.

Topics

Science & Research Research

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