National Aeronautics and Space Administration Dryden Flight Research Center P.O.

Box 273 Edwards, California 93523 AC 805-258-3449 FAX 805-258-3566 pao@dfrc.nasa.gov

FS-1998-11-057 DFRC

Lear Jet Flight Research Support Aircraft

NASAs Lear Jet Model 24 aircraft is used as a flight research support aircraft for flight research projects. NASAs Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif., acquired the aircraft, tail number 805, in February 1998. The aircraft, call sign NASA 805, is a Model 24 corporate class, high altitude, high performance vehicle powered by two General Electric jet engines delivering a maximum thrust of 2,950 lbs. each. The Lear Jet is an economical, quick-response research aircraft, capable of take-off and landings at many small to medium size airports closed to larger heavier aircraft. Capable of flying 1,500 nautical miles, at an altitude of 45,000 feet, it can support an experimental payload of 1,200 lbs. The aircraft accommodates one or two experimenters during a given mission. Payload weight trade-offs can be made; for example, if only one experimenter is required, additional equipment can be carried. Current Work A new infrared camera system aboard the Lear Jet provides added technical support for flight research projects at Dryden. This new system, developed by NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., consists of two advanced infrared cameras and mounting ball joints. Six- and 10-inch diameter holes located in the aircrafts upper fuselage provide an unobstructed view for the cameras. The combination of the two cameras give high resolution infrared images throughout the infrared spectrum. The added flexibility of the infrared imaging system increases

the versatility of this aircraft as a mission support aircraft for aerodynamic research and investigation of other advanced technologies.

Aeronautics Enterprise

Drydens Lear Jet 24 aircraft, in its role as a mission support aircraft, provides support to other NASA rePrevious Work search aircraft at Dryden. This support compliments the aggressive long-range goals of NASAs Office of AeroFormerly, the Lear Jet 24 served in NASAs Airborne Space Technology, also known as the Aeronautics EnterObservatory Program and operated from NASAs Ames prise. The Aeronautics Enterprise is one of the four Research Center. In that role, the Lear Jet 24 acquired NASA Strategic Enterprises established to address key data for airborne observatory research using an airborne agency activities in distinctly different areas. infrared telescope. The aircraft provided a base for a wide variety of experiments and sensors collecting data in support of scientific projects supported by NASA, as well as other federal, state, university and industrial investigators. Major areas of activity included astronomical, meteorological, planetary, atmospheric and geophysical programs. Being a high altitude, high performance aircraft, the Lear Jet Airborne Observatory has flown scientific surveys over the North American, South American, European and Australian Continents. Locations visited include the U.S.A., Samoa, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Brazil, France, Greece, Guatemala, Panama, Bermuda and the Arctic. A partial list of missions completed includes: first Venus cloud cover analysis, boundary layer programs, first measurement of extra-solar far-infrared ionic structure lines, Quadantid meteor shower expedition, air pollution studies, solar eclipse missions, infrared atmospheric radiance study, barium ion upper atmospheric release, lightning spectral study, low level wind shear studies, Cape Kennedy mission launch support and high altitude infrared astronomical research.