Flight Research Inc. provides complete support, services, and management to aerospace companies from around the world, offering a wide range of test aircraft, and expertise in virtually all areas of flight test. FRI maintains a fleet of instrumented aircraft ranging from single engine reciprocating aircraft to supersonic fighters to helicopters. We offer calibrated pace and chase support aircraft to cover all speed ranges.
RVSM Certification [Back To Top]
If
you are looking to take advantage of reduced vertical seperation distances
by certifying your avionics suite, we can help. This certification
requires flight testing of your aircraft and avionics, and we specialize
in this type of flight testing. FRI has a Barfield tester which enables us
to perform all the ground calibrations required prior to the flight test,
which is then performed using our own specially designed and built
trailing cone flight test equipment. We have experience certifying
aircraft ranging from corporate jets to Douglas DC-8s.
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RVSM flight testing can be done at our facilities in Mojave, California or at the customer's facilities anywhere in the world. In Mojave, modification of the aircraft is often made easier because of immediate access to all equipment, tools and parts required to install the trailing cone on the aircraft. Calibration of the cone in Mojave is done using the "tower-fly-by" method. |
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If the flight test is performed at the customer’s facility, FRI ships all the necessary equipment to the customer’s facility and performs modification of the aircraft on site. Arrangement can be made to have the aircraft weighed on location. In the absence of a calibrated tower, the trailing cone is calibrated using a portable ground pressure transducer.
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The
average turn-around time for this type of certification flight testing is
three days, with the following milestone schedule:
Day 1:
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Modify the aircraft and install the trailing cone
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Conformity inspection
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Place the aircraft in "Experimental" category
Day 2:
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Calibrate the cone
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Perform flight test for full envelope RVSM certification
Day 3:
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De-modify the aircraft, removing the test equipment
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Return the aircraft to "Normal" category
Aircraft and System Certification [Back To Top]
Flight Research, Inc. can help you with your certification process. Whether it's a type certificate for an entire aircraft or an STC for a system or modification, we've done it and can help. We have experience in full aircraft Type Certificates such as what we are currently pursuing for the reborn Derringer company, avionics STCs and flight control STCs (such as the modification on our Piper Cherokee 140 with full-span flaps, speed brakes and spoilerons).
Our staff of DER's and Flight Test Engineers can assist you in flight test validation as well as shepherding your project through the complex FAA certification process. Contact us and find out how we can help your project come to fruition faster and more efficiently.
Avionics Upgrades [Back To Top]
Flight Research, Inc. can help you with your avionics upgrades. Whether it is a standard glass panel upgrade, certification of your suite for RVSM, or the installation of FLIR and night vision equipment, we have the talent and capabilities to help. Our engineering staff can provide the appropriate FAA-approved documentation, and our staff can assist with the installation and subsequent flight testing.
Weapons Test and Certification [Back To Top]
Flight Research's aircraft provide excellent platforms for captive carriage and release of weapons and sensors. We have a wide variety of pods and pylons, and if what we have doesn't fit your needs, we have the capability to manufacture a system that will.
We have experience in weapons testing and certification on aircraft from our helicopters to our supersonic Saab SK-35XD Draken fighters. We have tested systems ranging from machine guns and cannon to "smart bombs" and towed electronics packages. If your system needs to be flight-tested, please contact us and allow us to begin developing a competitive bid package.
Flight Testing Your Project [Back To Top] test
Your project: it doesn't matter what it entails, it is our priority. Our business is flight test, and we can design a program that will efficiently and economically meet your specific flight test needs and goals. Contact us, tell us your flight test needs, and we'll find a way to accomplish them.
Whether it is a single specialized flight, or an entire series of flights to validate your product, your project is our priority. Any flight test program is a team effort, both between you and FRI, and amongst the team members here. We have a highly qualified staff of flight test engineers, pilots and maintenance technicians who all understand the concept of meeting your needs through the team's efforts.
Our pilots and flight test engineers are some of the best. Each has extensive experience in his or her respective field, many are members of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and Test Engineers, and they all also serve on the staff of our sister organization, the National Test Pilot School. Click here to jump to their biographies on the School's web page.
