NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center: 2025-2026 Fleet Expansion & CATNLF Flight Tests
In 2025, NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, added several aircraft to its fleet: two F-15 supersonic jets, a Pilatus PC-12 utility plane, and a T-34 turboprop trainer. These additions support the center's aerospace research missions.
"New technologies often perform differently in flight than in lab or wind tunnel settings."
The center conducted flight tests in April 2026 as part of the Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) project. A scale-model wing designed to improve laminar flow was attached to an F-15 aircraft. The project aims to lower fuel costs for future commercial aircraft by avoiding costly modifications required for full-scale wing installation. The tests followed earlier computer modeling and wind tunnel experiments.
Background and History
NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center, located at Edwards Air Force Base in California, traces its origins to 1947, when the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics established the Station for High-Speed Research at Muroc Army Airfield. This station was crucial in preparing for the Bell X-1 rocket plane's first supersonic research flights. The center has operated diverse aircraft, including the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, rocket-powered X-15, and modified fighter jets like the F-18. After nearly 80 years, flight research continues at the facility.
Key Historical Milestones
- 1947: X-1 achieved the first supersonic flight.
- 1960s: Conducted lifting body flight research.
- 1970s: Developed digital fly-by-wire systems.
- 1990s: Explored X-31 post-stall maneuvering.
- 2000s: Advanced hypersonic flight research.
Strategic Location
NASA Armstrong's location at Edwards Air Force Base provides access to the nation's largest secure flight test range, spanning approximately 470 square miles, including the 44-square-mile Rogers Dry Lake surface. The extensive restricted airspace and specialized instrumentation enable safe and complex flight-testing scenarios. The dry lake's hard-packed surface serves as a critical emergency landing site for experimental aircraft. The region's consistent flying weather and low population density support uninterrupted flight operations.
Current Research and Development
The center supports projects including the X-59 quiet supersonic technology aircraft, hypersonic research, and advanced air mobility technologies. Flight testing is led at Armstrong in collaboration with other NASA centers and industry partners.
CATNLF Project Flight Tests
- The scale-model wing was mounted on the underside of an F-15.
- Flight tests help prove new technology for certification.
- Technologies often perform differently in flight than in lab or wind tunnel settings.
Statements
Darren Cole, capabilities manager for the Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities project at NASA Armstrong, stated that the center's strength lies in its personnel's multidimensional skills and knowledge for maintaining and modifying unique aircraft.
Wayne Ringelberg, chief pilot at NASA Armstrong, stated that flight tests help prove new technology for certification and allow industry to improve systems. He noted that new technologies often perform differently in flight than in lab or wind tunnel settings.
Diverse Mission Portfolio
Beyond experimental aircraft, NASA's work at Edwards supports Earth science, airborne sensor testing, and planetary exploration. Aircraft like the ER-2 and Gulfstream carry instruments to study climate, weather, and atmospheric composition. The center's infrastructure enables these missions by providing access to high-altitude corridors and stable flying conditions.
Partnerships
Partnerships with the U.S. Air Force enhance NASA's capabilities through shared resources and coordinated airspace management. Technologies developed at the center are present in all U.S. commercial aircraft and control towers. The center maintains a fleet of modified aircraft that serve as flying laboratories for experimental missions.