NASA Ground Crew Prepares Wing Model Ahead of High-Speed Taxi Test

NASA ground crew prepares the agency’s F-15 research aircraft and Cross Flow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) test article ahead of its first high-speed taxi test on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2026, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The CATNLF design aims to reduce drag on wing surfaces to improve efficiency and, in turn, reduce fuel burn.

NASA ground crew prepares the agency’s F-15 research aircraft and Cross Flow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) test article ahead of its first high-speed taxi test on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2026, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The CATNLF design aims to reduce drag on wing surfaces to improve efficiency and, in turn, reduce fuel burn.

Location AFRC
NASAF-15CATNLFCross Flow Attenuated Natural Laminar FlowSCHAMROQSchlieren Airborne Measurements and Range Operations for QuesstTransonicSubsonicScale ModelWing DesignFlightAeronauticsAerialFlight Demonstrations and CapabilitiesFDCAFRCArmstrong Flight Research CenterLangley Research CenterAirplanesEdwards Air Force BaseAeronautics Research Test BedAeronautics Research Mission DirectorateARMDIntegrated Aviation Systems ProgramIASPAdvanced Air Transport TechnologyAATT