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Capabilities
Armstrong’s mission support aircraft play a vital role in successful flight and ground operations.
When the aviation, space, and science communities want to pursue innovative solutions for high-priority needs, they look to the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center’s support aircraft fleet to deliver effective results in an ever-changing, sometimes unpredictable environment. Our mission support aircraft are flexible, adaptable, and agile platforms that are real-time in-situ research facilities to collect, process, exploit, and disseminate the best research data possible, as quickly as possible to demonstrate technologies and concepts, in the toughest environments.
These assets are key to improving the confidence level of space-based programs for the ascent, in-flight, and descent phases through the atmosphere. These aircraft are also vital in performing risk reduction in a real-world environment, in which instruments and other equipment are accessible real time for repair.
Safety Chase Support
While performing safety chase support, pilots maintain re-broadcast hot-mic and constant radio and visual contact with research test vehicles to ensure total flight safety during specific tests and maneuvers. These chase pilots monitor external flight-critical safety items, clear other aircraft operations, observe flight control operations for the test pilot, and provide additional real-time feedback to the test pilot and control room personnel.
Photo/Video Support
Two-seat support aircraft are used for photo and video support. Photo and video technicians in these aircraft transmit live video back to control rooms so that project engineers can monitor the mission as it is flown, ensuring the ability to make critical flight safety decisions if required.
This capability greatly enhances existing ground-based, long-range optic systems providing video and photo recording of research flight test accomplishments.
Other Support Aircraft
SAMO Contact Information
Troy Asher
Director for Flight Operations
(661) 276-6125
Dave McAllister
Deputy Director
(661) 276-3674
Susan Moreno
Flight Operations Business Analyst
(661) 276-6242
