Title: NAVAIR F/A-18E Undergoes Loads Testing at NASA Armstrong

Load pads are bonded to the aircraft surface of a F/A-18E from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in Patuxent River, Maryland, while under pressure. The aircraft is in NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Flight Loads Laboratory in Edwards, California, for the center’s biggest load calibrations tests. This testing is needed before the aircraft can serve as a test vehicle for determining if it can safely manage maneuvers and proposed upgrades

Load pads are bonded to the aircraft surface of a F/A-18E from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in Patuxent River, Maryland, while under pressure. The aircraft is in NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Flight Loads Laboratory in Edwards, California, for the center’s biggest load calibrations tests. This testing is needed before the aircraft can serve as a test vehicle for determining if it can safely manage maneuvers and proposed upgrades

Photographer NASA/Lauren Hughes
Location AFRC
NASA Armstrong Flight Research CenterNASA Armstrong Flight Loads Laboratoryloads testingF A-18ESuper HornetEdwards Air Force BaseCaliforniaNaval Air Systems CommandNAVAIR