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Volume 40, Issue 7, Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California
April 3, 1998

 
Research Roundup
In Touch
People and Places
Exchange Events
News Briefs

ACLAIM makes first flight

button Device may make air travel safer.

By Kirsten Williams
Public Affairs Specialist

An experimental device that may make air travel safer by detecting previously invisible forms of clear air turbulence and giving pilots time to take safety precautions made its first flight March 24 as part of NASA's Aviation Safety Program.

Clear air turbulence is an invisible safety hazard for aircraft. You can't see it, but you certainly can feel it. It' s been referred to as "rough air" or "air pockets." Though seldom damaging to modern aircraft, which are designed to withstand its stresses, it is the leading cause of in-flight injuries among the flying public. 

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X-31

The VECTOR program 's Phase I work began at Dryden on March 2 with Cooperative Test Organization team members performing the successful installation and fit-check of a SAAB JAS-39 Gripen fighter RM-12 engine (GE F-404 engine derivative) into the X-31 aircraft. An aircraft equipment and parts inventory also was accomplished by the VECTOR partners.
NASA photo EC98 44434-9
 


button 1st phase of X-31 VECTOR program begins

By Gray Creech
Aerospace Projects Writer

Dryden is cooperating (in an agreement) with the U.S. Navy, the Boeing Co., General Electric and several international partners on Phase 1 of a new flight research program called VECTOR (Vectoring, Extremely Short Takeoff and Landing, Control and Tailless Operation Research).

The VECTOR program will use one of the two X-31 aircraft that flew at Dryden between 1992 and 1995. "The prospect of getting the X-31 back in the air is exciting," said Steve Schmidt,

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button Shelton leads Airborne Science Program

Deputy Director brings wide range of experience

By Alan Brown
Aerospace Projects Writer

Gary A. Shelton has been appointed to head the Airborne Science Program at Dryden.

As Deputy Director in the Aerospace Projects Directorate, Airborne Science, Shelton manages the overall direction of the Airborne Science Program. The program uses three specialized aircraft to fly a wide variety of experiments in support of projects developed by the scientific community.

Shelton brings extensive experience from his former positions with NASA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and private industry to his new post at Dryden.

 Gary Shelton portrait

Gary Shelton joins Dryden as Deputy Director for Airborne Science. He joined NASA in 1984. NASA photo

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March 20, 1998 X-Press

NASA logo Responsible NASA Official: John Childress
For questions, contact: Dryden Web Group
Page Curator: Marty Curry
Modified: April 2, 1998
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