NASA Pilatus PC-12 cuts through the desert skies over NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California with the compass rose in the background on Sept. 18, 2024.

Used as a directional indicator the compass rose guides pilots flying test and experimental aircraft like the Pilatus PC-12 in the vast airspace over NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. This Pilatus PC-12 based out of NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is being flown for a series of familiarization flights for NASA’s Armstrong pilots and crew. These familiarization flights supported communication, navigation and surveillance evaluations for Advanced Air Mobility research.

Used as a directional indicator the compass rose guides pilots flying test and experimental aircraft like the Pilatus PC-12 in the vast airspace over NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. This Pilatus PC-12 based out of NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is being flown for a series of familiarization flights for NASA’s Armstrong pilots and crew. These familiarization flights supported communication, navigation and surveillance evaluations for Advanced Air Mobility research.

Photographer NASA/Jim Ross
Location AFRC
NASAAFRCArmstrong Flight Research CenterGRCGlenn Research CenterAir Mobility PathfindersAdvanced Air MobilityAAMPilatus PC-12PC-12Mobile Operations FacilityMOFEdwards Air Force BaseResearch TestingADS-B TestingAutomatic Dependent Surveillance BroadcastFlight TestFamiliarization FlightMojave DesertCompass RoseAeronauticsAerospaceTechnologyAirspace Operations and Safety Program