NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in California has welcomed two retired US Air Force F-15 jets into its fleet, marking a significant step forward for supersonic flight research. The jets, which have been decommissioned from military service, will now be repurposed to support NASA's Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities project.
The aircraft, acquired from the Oregon Air National Guard's 173rd Fighter Wing, will play a crucial role in testing the X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft. One of the jets will resume active duty as an experimental research platform, while the second will be repurposed for parts to support the long-term sustainment of NASA's fleet.
Troy Asher, director of flight operations at NASA Armstrong, described the F-15s as "game-changers" in supporting data collection and chase plane capabilities for the X-59. The aircraft will enable collaboration with external partners, including the Department of War and commercial aviation companies.
The addition of these jets marks a new chapter in NASA's partnership with the US Air Force to advance high-speed flight research. This collaboration has already yielded numerous scientific experiments, contributing significantly to the field of aeronautics over several decades.
The F-15s possess unique capabilities that make them well-suited for flight research at NASA Armstrong. The aircraft can be modified to support complex experiments and carry external hardware, including instruments and sensors. Their ground clearance allows researchers to install equipment that would not fit on other aircraft, enabling the collection of critical data in high-altitude environments.
The new F-15 will undergo modification to enable safe operations at altitudes above 60,000 feet – the top of the flight envelope for the X-59. This capability is essential for NASA's supersonic research goals. The integration of these jets with existing research platforms promises a significant leap forward in supporting advanced aeronautics and partnerships.
For Asher, the priority remains on successfully integrating these aircraft into the X-59 project. As the partnership progresses, he believes that the F-15s will position NASA to continue supporting groundbreaking research and collaborations.
The aircraft, acquired from the Oregon Air National Guard's 173rd Fighter Wing, will play a crucial role in testing the X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft. One of the jets will resume active duty as an experimental research platform, while the second will be repurposed for parts to support the long-term sustainment of NASA's fleet.
Troy Asher, director of flight operations at NASA Armstrong, described the F-15s as "game-changers" in supporting data collection and chase plane capabilities for the X-59. The aircraft will enable collaboration with external partners, including the Department of War and commercial aviation companies.
The addition of these jets marks a new chapter in NASA's partnership with the US Air Force to advance high-speed flight research. This collaboration has already yielded numerous scientific experiments, contributing significantly to the field of aeronautics over several decades.
The F-15s possess unique capabilities that make them well-suited for flight research at NASA Armstrong. The aircraft can be modified to support complex experiments and carry external hardware, including instruments and sensors. Their ground clearance allows researchers to install equipment that would not fit on other aircraft, enabling the collection of critical data in high-altitude environments.
The new F-15 will undergo modification to enable safe operations at altitudes above 60,000 feet – the top of the flight envelope for the X-59. This capability is essential for NASA's supersonic research goals. The integration of these jets with existing research platforms promises a significant leap forward in supporting advanced aeronautics and partnerships.
For Asher, the priority remains on successfully integrating these aircraft into the X-59 project. As the partnership progresses, he believes that the F-15s will position NASA to continue supporting groundbreaking research and collaborations.
i mean can u imagine flyin at like 60k feet w/ that crazy silence lol! its also rad 2 hear about them gettin modified 4 high-altitude enviros tho 
that's like, whoa! nasa & the us air force r workin toghther 2 advance supersonic flight research & i cant wait 2 see whats comin outta it 
i mean can you imagine having a plane that can break the sound barrier for real 
it's crazy how nasa is teaming up with the air force to make this happen 
and now they're gonna use these jets to test out the x-59 thingy 
i'm low-key hyped about this whole thing 
️, like it's no big deal, but is it? what does it say about our society that we can't even make our own planes anymore? 
but at the same time, I guess it's kinda cool that they're gettin' repurposed to do good science and all... 
doesn't that just feel like we're hidin' from somethin'? 
nasa just got its hands on 2 retired f-15 jets & they're gonna be repurposed for supersonic flight research 
these aircraft r perfect for testing the x-59 quiet supersonic aircraft 
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for makin it happen, now lets just hope the mods go smooth and we can get some sick data from these jets 
i'm literally hyped for this 
nasa is taking supersonic flight research to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL 
it's like they're meant to be in space 
can u imagine flying on the edge of sound barriers 
with the x-59 as your ride? 
hope these jets will help unlock some major scientific breakthroughs 
. Troy Asher's saying they're game-changers and it's not hard to see why - these aircraft have some serious capabilities 
. Can't wait to see what kind of cool experiments they get to do with the X-59 
!
I'm all about this collaboration with the US Air Force, it's amazing what can happen when people work together towards a common goal 
. These retired F-15s are literally giving new life to research and science, I mean who wouldn't want that? 
! Can u believe it?! They're gonna test the X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft and it's gonna be SO COOL 
. Fingers crossed for them and the X-59 project 
. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the team at NASA Armstrong to make some serious waves with this new partnership 
Getting retired jets like the F-15 on board is going to make their X-59 project go from meh to mesmerizing 
. It'll also open doors for NASA to collaborate with more companies & partners... let's see how it all plays out! 
...
Seriously though, this collaboration between NASA and the US Air Force is a win-win for research and innovation. And Troy Asher's mention of "game-changers" makes sense – these jets are definitely gonna bring a new level of complexity to their experiments. I'm curious to see how they'll integrate with the X-59... will it be a wild ride? 
