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The Airborne Laser program, formerly of the 452nd Flight Test Squadron, now falls under the 417th Flight Test Squadron, which was activated in a ceremony Thursday. The 417th FLTS, comprised of about 750 people, including the contractor workforce and the government workforce, is responsible for flight testing the YAL-1A "Airborne Laser" aircraft, shown above. The aircraft is currently in Wichita, Kan., receiving modifications to the sub-structure of the aircraft to accommodate the integration of the weapons system-edited-Not part of my personal collection
The Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) Hydrometeorology Testbed - Hydro (hereafter denoted as HMT-Hydro) experiment is a part of the United States Weather Research Program (USWRP) through the Hydrometeorology Testbed (HMT) that runs from 24 June to 19 July 2019. During the HMT-Hydro experiment, forecasters and hydrologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) will work with National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) research scientists to explore new technology and techniques to improve the prediction and warning of flash flooding. In particular, NWS participants will evaluate new probabilistic hydrologic modeling concepts and output within the Flooded Locations and Simulated Hydrographs (FLASH) system that could help convey the uncertainty of the flash flood threat. NWS participants will also evaluate high resolution precipitation forecasts from the NSSL Warn-on-Forecast (WoF) project and the addition of these forecasts into the FLASH system. Feedback from participants will allow NSSL research scientists to identify how these high spatio-temporal resolution precipitation forecasts could influence the warning decision making process, including the potential for increased warning lead time. Evaluations of the various probabilistic data sets will provide further understanding on the usability and effectiveness of these products, as well as guide future efforts of the Forecasting A Continuum of Environmental Threats (FACETs) project for flooding hazards. The HMT-Hydro experiment runs in conjunction with the Flash Flood and Intense Rainfall (FFaIR) experiment at the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) to collaborate on the short-term forecasting of flash flooding for both a national and regional scale.
Airbus A380-861
MSN 004 [Engine Alliance testbed]
F-WWDD 'VNO'
Airbus S.A.S.
Copyright © 2010 A380spotter. All rights reserved.
MRMS HMT Hydro Experiment
The Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) Hydrometeorology Testbed - Hydro (hereafter denoted as HMT-Hydro) experiment is a part of the United States Weather Research Program (USWRP) through the Hydrometeorology Testbed (HMT) that runs from 25 June to 20 July 2018. During the HMT-Hydro experiment, forecasters and hydrologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) will work with National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) research scientists to assess new technology and techniques to improve the prediction and warning of flash flooding. In particular, NWS participants will evaluate new probabilistic hydrologic modeling concepts and output within the Flooded Locations and Simulated Hydrographs (FLASH) system that could help convey the uncertainty of the flash flood threat. NWS participants will also evaluate high resolution precipitation forecasts from the NSSL Warn-on-Forecast (WoF) project and the addition of these forecasts into the FLASH system. Feedback from participants will allow NSSL research scientists to identify how these precipitation forecasts could influence the warning decision making process, including the potential for increased warning lead time. The HMT-Hydro experiment runs in conjunction with the Flash Flood and Intense Rainfall (FFaIR) experiment at the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) to collaborate on the short-term forecasting of flash flooding for both a national and regional scale.
Chasing away the rainy day blues, though sadly no test engine on the pylon.
Originally delivered to Eastern Airlines in February, 1983 - later with Airtours Int'l and MyTravel, a testbed for Honeywell since 2005.
©2014 A. Kwanten.
Boeing 757-225
22194/5
N757HW ['#FUTURESHAPER' decals]
Honeywell Flight Test
Honeywell International Inc.
Copyright © 2021 A380spotter. All rights reserved.
Pima Air and Space Museum
The Boeing 747 began as a concept for a U.S. Air Force contract competition to design a heavy lift cargo aircraft. That contest was eventually won by the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, but Boeing’s failure to win that contract led it to develop one of the most iconic aircraft ever. The first 747 made its maiden flight in February 1969 and the type made its first commercial flight less than a year later. Since then the humpbacked shape of the 747 has become familiar to millions of travelers around the world. The “Jumbo Jet” is the first twin isle airliner and in some configurations could carry more than 500 passengers. This immense size allowed a much lower operating cost per seat and helped bring long distance air travel into the price range of vastly more people. Boeing has built more than 1,560 since 1969. As of 2018, only about 20 remain to be delivered. The era of the 747 as a passenger plane is coming to an end as it is replaced by more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft, but it will continue to be in use as a cargo plane for many years to come.
It was built by Boeing Aircraft Company at Everett, Washington and delivered to Pan American World Airways on March 21, 1970. It is the twenty-fifth 747 built. Following Pan Am’s practice of naming its aircraft, this airplane flew with the name “Clipper Star of the Union” until 1982 when it was renamed “Clipper Ocean Spray.” It remained with Pan Am until the bankruptcy of the airline in 1991. In March 1992 it was purchased by General Electric for use as an engine test bed. Since then the plane has flown more than 3,000 hours carrying various test engines for GE as they develop the engines that power many of the planes that are replacing the 747 in airline service. General Electric donated the aircraft to the Pima Air & Space Museum in November 2018.
Wingspan: 195 ft 8 in.
Length: 231 ft 4 in.
Height: 63 ft 5 in.
Weight: 735,000 lbs (loaded)
Maximum Speed: 595 MPH
Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft
Range: 6,000 miles
Engines: Four Pratt and Whitney JD9D-3 turbofans with 43,000 pounds of thrust each
Crew: 3 flight crew, 15 flight attendants, 374 to 490 passengers
Manufacturer: Boeing
Markings: General Electric Aviation, 2018
Designation: 747-121
Registration: N747GE
Serial Number: 19651
Please bear with me; it's a long story. This aircraft is currently undergoing reconstruction. The nose section is from 44-85813, an aircraft used as an engine testbed by Curtiss-Wright. This aircraft, civil registration N6694C, crashed in 1980 - registration cancelled. Major parts of another B-17, one used for atomic tests in Nevada, 44-83722 are being used; its civil registration, N3154S, is being adopted but will now be associated with 44-85813.
Project: Tiny TIM (Threats-In-Motion)
Location: NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed / National Weather Center (Norman, OK)
Date: Feb 15, 2023
Photographer: James Murnan / NOAA NSSL
This experiment brings together NWS forecasters and researchers to evaluate and provide feedback on the concept of allowing warnings to be extended in time and area, a first step towards Threats-In-Motion (TIM) for severe weather warnings for hail, wind, and tornadoes. To facilitate this evaluation, forecasters use Hazard Services Convective to create and manage TIM warnings. The concept and software is tested on several archived cases.
MRMS HMT Hydro Experiment
The Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) Hydrometeorology Testbed - Hydro (hereafter denoted as HMT-Hydro) experiment is a part of the United States Weather Research Program (USWRP) through the Hydrometeorology Testbed (HMT) that runs from 25 June to 20 July 2018. During the HMT-Hydro experiment, forecasters and hydrologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) will work with National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) research scientists to assess new technology and techniques to improve the prediction and warning of flash flooding. In particular, NWS participants will evaluate new probabilistic hydrologic modeling concepts and output within the Flooded Locations and Simulated Hydrographs (FLASH) system that could help convey the uncertainty of the flash flood threat. NWS participants will also evaluate high resolution precipitation forecasts from the NSSL Warn-on-Forecast (WoF) project and the addition of these forecasts into the FLASH system. Feedback from participants will allow NSSL research scientists to identify how these precipitation forecasts could influence the warning decision making process, including the potential for increased warning lead time. The HMT-Hydro experiment runs in conjunction with the Flash Flood and Intense Rainfall (FFaIR) experiment at the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) to collaborate on the short-term forecasting of flash flooding for both a national and regional scale.
GOES-R / JPSS Convective Applications experiment of the Experimental Warning Program in the NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed (HWT) at the National Weather Center in Norman, OK. The GOES-R / JPSS experiment will have two components: a) an evaluation of multiple CONUS GOES-R convective applications, including satellite imagery, derived products, and multispectral applications along with GLM lightning; and b) a real-time evaluation of the JPSS sounding product suite NUCAPS.
XV Patrick Blackett (X01) is an experimental ship used by the Royal Navy as a testbed for new technologies, including unmanned underwater vehicles and unmanned surface vehicles.
Her namesake is Patrick Blackett, a Royal Navy veteran and Nobel Prize-winning British physicist.
The Ship has her own QR Code
Pictured here returning to Portsmouth Naval Base, where the ship is currently based
MRMS HMT Hydro Experiment
The Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) Hydrometeorology Testbed - Hydro (hereafter denoted as HMT-Hydro) experiment is a part of the United States Weather Research Program (USWRP) through the Hydrometeorology Testbed (HMT) that runs from 25 June to 20 July 2018. During the HMT-Hydro experiment, forecasters and hydrologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) will work with National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) research scientists to assess new technology and techniques to improve the prediction and warning of flash flooding. In particular, NWS participants will evaluate new probabilistic hydrologic modeling concepts and output within the Flooded Locations and Simulated Hydrographs (FLASH) system that could help convey the uncertainty of the flash flood threat. NWS participants will also evaluate high resolution precipitation forecasts from the NSSL Warn-on-Forecast (WoF) project and the addition of these forecasts into the FLASH system. Feedback from participants will allow NSSL research scientists to identify how these precipitation forecasts could influence the warning decision making process, including the potential for increased warning lead time. The HMT-Hydro experiment runs in conjunction with the Flash Flood and Intense Rainfall (FFaIR) experiment at the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) to collaborate on the short-term forecasting of flash flooding for both a national and regional scale.
Mark 21 Spitfire with contra-rotating 6 blade Rotol propeller. A few Mark 21s were given this set up and did precious work as a testbed for later Mark 22 Spitfires and Seafires.
XV Patrick Blackett (X01) is an experimental ship used by the Royal Navy as a testbed for new technologies, including unmanned underwater vehicles and unmanned surface vehicles.
Her namesake is Patrick Blackett, a Royal Navy veteran and Nobel Prize-winning British physicist.
The Ship has her own QR Code
Pictured here returning to Portsmouth Naval Base, where the ship is currently based
Airbus A380-841
MSN 001
F-WWOW '001 GD' [Prototype/Rolls-Royce Trent testbed]
Airbus S.A.S.
Copyright © 2014 A380spotter. All rights reserved.
The Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) Hydrometeorology Testbed - Hydro (hereafter denoted as HMT-Hydro) experiment is a part of the United States Weather Research Program (USWRP) through the Hydrometeorology Testbed (HMT) that runs from 24 June to 19 July 2019. During the HMT-Hydro experiment, forecasters and hydrologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) will work with National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) research scientists to explore new technology and techniques to improve the prediction and warning of flash flooding. In particular, NWS participants will evaluate new probabilistic hydrologic modeling concepts and output within the Flooded Locations and Simulated Hydrographs (FLASH) system that could help convey the uncertainty of the flash flood threat. NWS participants will also evaluate high resolution precipitation forecasts from the NSSL Warn-on-Forecast (WoF) project and the addition of these forecasts into the FLASH system. Feedback from participants will allow NSSL research scientists to identify how these high spatio-temporal resolution precipitation forecasts could influence the warning decision making process, including the potential for increased warning lead time. Evaluations of the various probabilistic data sets will provide further understanding on the usability and effectiveness of these products, as well as guide future efforts of the Forecasting A Continuum of Environmental Threats (FACETs) project for flooding hazards. The HMT-Hydro experiment runs in conjunction with the Flash Flood and Intense Rainfall (FFaIR) experiment at the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) to collaborate on the short-term forecasting of flash flooding for both a national and regional scale.
The Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) Hydrometeorology Testbed - Hydro (hereafter denoted as HMT-Hydro) experiment is a part of the United States Weather Research Program (USWRP) through the Hydrometeorology Testbed (HMT) that runs from 24 June to 19 July 2019. During the HMT-Hydro experiment, forecasters and hydrologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) will work with National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) research scientists to explore new technology and techniques to improve the prediction and warning of flash flooding. In particular, NWS participants will evaluate new probabilistic hydrologic modeling concepts and output within the Flooded Locations and Simulated Hydrographs (FLASH) system that could help convey the uncertainty of the flash flood threat. NWS participants will also evaluate high resolution precipitation forecasts from the NSSL Warn-on-Forecast (WoF) project and the addition of these forecasts into the FLASH system. Feedback from participants will allow NSSL research scientists to identify how these high spatio-temporal resolution precipitation forecasts could influence the warning decision making process, including the potential for increased warning lead time. Evaluations of the various probabilistic data sets will provide further understanding on the usability and effectiveness of these products, as well as guide future efforts of the Forecasting A Continuum of Environmental Threats (FACETs) project for flooding hazards. The HMT-Hydro experiment runs in conjunction with the Flash Flood and Intense Rainfall (FFaIR) experiment at the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) to collaborate on the short-term forecasting of flash flooding for both a national and regional scale.
The Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) Hydrometeorology Testbed - Hydro (hereafter denoted as HMT-Hydro) experiment is a part of the United States Weather Research Program (USWRP) through the Hydrometeorology Testbed (HMT) that runs from 24 June to 19 July 2019. During the HMT-Hydro experiment, forecasters and hydrologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) will work with National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) research scientists to explore new technology and techniques to improve the prediction and warning of flash flooding. In particular, NWS participants will evaluate new probabilistic hydrologic modeling concepts and output within the Flooded Locations and Simulated Hydrographs (FLASH) system that could help convey the uncertainty of the flash flood threat. NWS participants will also evaluate high resolution precipitation forecasts from the NSSL Warn-on-Forecast (WoF) project and the addition of these forecasts into the FLASH system. Feedback from participants will allow NSSL research scientists to identify how these high spatio-temporal resolution precipitation forecasts could influence the warning decision making process, including the potential for increased warning lead time. Evaluations of the various probabilistic data sets will provide further understanding on the usability and effectiveness of these products, as well as guide future efforts of the Forecasting A Continuum of Environmental Threats (FACETs) project for flooding hazards. The HMT-Hydro experiment runs in conjunction with the Flash Flood and Intense Rainfall (FFaIR) experiment at the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) to collaborate on the short-term forecasting of flash flooding for both a national and regional scale.
The Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) Hydrometeorology Testbed - Hydro (hereafter denoted as HMT-Hydro) experiment is a part of the United States Weather Research Program (USWRP) through the Hydrometeorology Testbed (HMT) that runs from 24 June to 19 July 2019. During the HMT-Hydro experiment, forecasters and hydrologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) will work with National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) research scientists to explore new technology and techniques to improve the prediction and warning of flash flooding. In particular, NWS participants will evaluate new probabilistic hydrologic modeling concepts and output within the Flooded Locations and Simulated Hydrographs (FLASH) system that could help convey the uncertainty of the flash flood threat. NWS participants will also evaluate high resolution precipitation forecasts from the NSSL Warn-on-Forecast (WoF) project and the addition of these forecasts into the FLASH system. Feedback from participants will allow NSSL research scientists to identify how these high spatio-temporal resolution precipitation forecasts could influence the warning decision making process, including the potential for increased warning lead time. Evaluations of the various probabilistic data sets will provide further understanding on the usability and effectiveness of these products, as well as guide future efforts of the Forecasting A Continuum of Environmental Threats (FACETs) project for flooding hazards. The HMT-Hydro experiment runs in conjunction with the Flash Flood and Intense Rainfall (FFaIR) experiment at the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) to collaborate on the short-term forecasting of flash flooding for both a national and regional scale.
The Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) Hydrometeorology Testbed - Hydro (hereafter denoted as HMT-Hydro) experiment is a part of the United States Weather Research Program (USWRP) through the Hydrometeorology Testbed (HMT) that runs from 24 June to 19 July 2019. During the HMT-Hydro experiment, forecasters and hydrologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) will work with National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) research scientists to explore new technology and techniques to improve the prediction and warning of flash flooding. In particular, NWS participants will evaluate new probabilistic hydrologic modeling concepts and output within the Flooded Locations and Simulated Hydrographs (FLASH) system that could help convey the uncertainty of the flash flood threat. NWS participants will also evaluate high resolution precipitation forecasts from the NSSL Warn-on-Forecast (WoF) project and the addition of these forecasts into the FLASH system. Feedback from participants will allow NSSL research scientists to identify how these high spatio-temporal resolution precipitation forecasts could influence the warning decision making process, including the potential for increased warning lead time. Evaluations of the various probabilistic data sets will provide further understanding on the usability and effectiveness of these products, as well as guide future efforts of the Forecasting A Continuum of Environmental Threats (FACETs) project for flooding hazards. The HMT-Hydro experiment runs in conjunction with the Flash Flood and Intense Rainfall (FFaIR) experiment at the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) to collaborate on the short-term forecasting of flash flooding for both a national and regional scale.
Modified P-3 Orion testbed flown for the Naval Research Laboratory returning to Point Mugu following several hours offshore - worth the wait.
Fokker F-VIIa was taken up by KLM on 16 August 1927, which was rebuilt using parts of the H-NADZ. Construction number 002 refers to the technical & engineering department of the KLM at Waalhaven airport in Rotterdam.
This aircraft was used as test bed of engines, like above picture shows the engine of Carley-Werkspoor Jumbo. That construction was started in 1929, on July 26, 1930, while on November 20, 1930, the sole Carley Jumbo was registered to KLM as PH-AFI. However, service operations were delayed due to overheating problems, as originally, the engine was almost completely enclosed to reduce drag as much as possible. After much experimenting the aircraft appeared in early 1931 with an open cowling, baffle-plates and cooling vents on each side of the engine.
Reregistered as PH-ADZ on 28 February 1929 and finally cancelled on 16 September 1938.
Following the end of World War II, the United States began a program of studying supersonic flight, with the program being run in conjunction with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the US Navy, and the US Army Air Force (soon to become the US Air Force). While Bell Aircraft built the X-1 for supersonic flight, Douglas worked on the D-558 series with much the same purpose. The company began with the D-558-1 Skystreak, which was intended to study both jet propulsion and supersonic speeds; the X-1 broke the sound barrier first, and the Skystreak, while providing valuable research on near-supersonic speeds and handling, could only reach the very beginning of supersonic speed in a dive.
Douglas had intended to equip the D-558-1 with a mixed jet/rocket propulsion, but the fuselage was too narrow. As work began to rectify this problem, Douglas’ designers learned of wartime German research into swept wings for better handling at high speeds. The Skystreak was completely redesigned into the swept-wing, larger D-558-2 Skyrocket. To test the aircraft, the first of three D-558-2s was equipped with only a jet engine, and first flew in February 1948, with rocket propulsion to be added later.
The D-558-2 was intended to only research the effects of supersonic flight on control surfaces and how to counter any problems caused by high speed on manuverability. The D-558-2 reached Mach 1.88 and 74,000 feet in its first series of tests, flown by Douglas test pilot Bill Bridgeman; afterwards, most test flights were either undertaken by US Marine Corps test pilot Lieutenant Colonel Marion Carl (one of the highest-ranked Marine aces of World War II) or NACA’s chief test pilot, Scott Crossfield.
The test program was very successful, discovering many of the difficulties that future pilots would encounter in supersonic environments, and how aircraft designers could plan and rectify these problems. Some Skyrocket flights were flown with dummy drop tanks and bombs to test how ordnance would react at high speed; others had different wing additions, such as leading-edge extensions, slats, movable stabilizers and wing fences, to best learn the effects of supersonic airflow over wings. Only reluctantly did NACA allow the test pilots to try and set speed records, preferring to leave that to the X-1 program and the USAF, but eventually relented. Crossfield took the D-558-2 over Mach 2 on 20 November 1953, the first person to do so.
The D-558-2 program ended in August 1956, after over a thousand flights without a single accident. All three aircraft were preserved for museums, where they remain today.
The first of the D-558-2s built, Bureau Number 37973 is known better as NACA 143. It was delivered in December 1947 with only jet propulsion, to test its handling, and took off and landed conventionally. Once the concept was proven and the other two Skyrockets were available, NACA 143 was returned to the Douglas factory and converted for air-launched rocket tests; in the end, only one of these type of missions were flown before the D-558-2 project ended. NACA 143 was then used as a traveling recruitment tool at airshows for the US Navy, until it was donated to Planes of Fame in 1966.
I suppose not too many people can say they've seen two D-558-2s in 12 hours, but that's what my friends and I did in May 2021. (It's probably not a priority, but when you're aviation geeks...) We saw this first Skyrocket at Planes of Fame, then drove up to Lancaster, California and saw the third and last ever built. Since I had seen the second, record-breaking D-558-2 at the Smithsonian in 2013, this "clinched" the aircraft for me; I've now seen all three Skyrockets.
Like a lot of pictures I took at Planes of Fame in 2021, this was not the best shot in the world, but the museum had been forced by coronavirus restrictions to crowd their aircraft together.
The Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) Hydrometeorology Testbed - Hydro (hereafter denoted as HMT-Hydro) experiment is a part of the United States Weather Research Program (USWRP) through the Hydrometeorology Testbed (HMT) that runs from 24 June to 19 July 2019. During the HMT-Hydro experiment, forecasters and hydrologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) will work with National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) research scientists to explore new technology and techniques to improve the prediction and warning of flash flooding. In particular, NWS participants will evaluate new probabilistic hydrologic modeling concepts and output within the Flooded Locations and Simulated Hydrographs (FLASH) system that could help convey the uncertainty of the flash flood threat. NWS participants will also evaluate high resolution precipitation forecasts from the NSSL Warn-on-Forecast (WoF) project and the addition of these forecasts into the FLASH system. Feedback from participants will allow NSSL research scientists to identify how these high spatio-temporal resolution precipitation forecasts could influence the warning decision making process, including the potential for increased warning lead time. Evaluations of the various probabilistic data sets will provide further understanding on the usability and effectiveness of these products, as well as guide future efforts of the Forecasting A Continuum of Environmental Threats (FACETs) project for flooding hazards. The HMT-Hydro experiment runs in conjunction with the Flash Flood and Intense Rainfall (FFaIR) experiment at the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) to collaborate on the short-term forecasting of flash flooding for both a national and regional scale.
MRMS HMT Hydro Experiment
The Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) Hydrometeorology Testbed - Hydro (hereafter denoted as HMT-Hydro) experiment is a part of the United States Weather Research Program (USWRP) through the Hydrometeorology Testbed (HMT) that runs from 25 June to 20 July 2018. During the HMT-Hydro experiment, forecasters and hydrologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) will work with National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) research scientists to assess new technology and techniques to improve the prediction and warning of flash flooding. In particular, NWS participants will evaluate new probabilistic hydrologic modeling concepts and output within the Flooded Locations and Simulated Hydrographs (FLASH) system that could help convey the uncertainty of the flash flood threat. NWS participants will also evaluate high resolution precipitation forecasts from the NSSL Warn-on-Forecast (WoF) project and the addition of these forecasts into the FLASH system. Feedback from participants will allow NSSL research scientists to identify how these precipitation forecasts could influence the warning decision making process, including the potential for increased warning lead time. The HMT-Hydro experiment runs in conjunction with the Flash Flood and Intense Rainfall (FFaIR) experiment at the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) to collaborate on the short-term forecasting of flash flooding for both a national and regional scale.