EC02-0203-55
A thin rod was all that was needed to transmit vibrations from a shaker device (at bottom) and the wingtip of the Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) F/A-18 research aircraft during ground vibration testing at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center. Wiring hanging down from the wingtip launcher rail transfered signals from accelerometers and other sensors mounted on the wing’s upper surface to monitoring equipment. The tests helped engineers determine if aerodynamically induced vibrations were controlled or suppressed during flight, and were the last major ground tests prior to the initiation of research flights. The X-53 designation was bestowed on the project by the USAF/DARPA group at Wright-Patterson AFB after the success of the project.› Read Project DescriptionAugust 22, 2002
NASA Photo / Tom Tschida