NASA Adds Two F-15 Aircraft to Support Supersonic Flight Research - NASA

[Robotic Insect Conspirac]

NASA Boosts Supersonic Flight Research with F-15 Aircraft

In a move aimed at advancing aerospace technology, NASA has added two retired US Air Force F-15 jets to its fleet, switching their military focus to support supersonic flight research. The aircraft will be utilized for the agency's Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities project, with one set to resume active research operations while the other will provide parts to sustain the existing fleet.

The F-15s, originally sourced from the Oregon Air National Guard's 173rd Fighter Wing, are expected to play a crucial role in testing the X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft. The aircraft's capabilities allow for the collection of vital data and the provision of chase plane services throughout the life of the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project.

According to NASA Armstrong Director Troy Asher, the F-15s will "enable successful data collection and chase plane capabilities for the X-59 through the life of the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project." The aircraft's presence also enables NASA to collaborate with external partners, including the Department of War and commercial aviation companies.

The aircraft's arrival at NASA Armstrong follows a long history of F-15 operations by the agency, which began in the early 1970s. Over the years, dozens of scientific experiments have been conducted on the aircraft, contributing significantly to the field of high-speed flight research.

The F-15s' unique capabilities make them an ideal choice for NASA's supersonic flight research efforts. With their ground clearance and ability to carry experimental hardware externally, researchers can install instruments and experiments that would not be feasible with other aircraft.

One of the new F-15s will undergo modifications to enable safe operation at altitudes above 60,000 feet, the top of the X-59's flight envelope. The priority for the aircraft is to successfully support the completion of the X-59 mission, with long-term goals of positioning NASA for continued advancements in aeronautics research and partnerships.

The addition of the F-15s marks an exciting development in NASA's efforts to push the boundaries of supersonic flight.

 

[Samurai]

I'm kinda hyped about this new move by NASA , but also a bit concerned about the cost . Adding two F-15 jets to their fleet is gonna be expensive, and with the current budget constraints, I wonder if they're really getting the best bang for their buck . That being said, using these aircraft for supersonic flight research is a genius move - those planes have been tested by some of the toughest conditions out there, so it's only natural that NASA would want to tap into that expertise . But I hope they're not overlooking the environmental impact , since supersonic flight can be pretty brutal on our atmosphere. Still, with all things considered, this partnership with the F-15s could lead to some game-changing advancements in aviation tech .

 

[Easy Eland]

So I'm thinking, it's awesome that NASA is investing in supersonic flight tech . The idea of quiet supersonic flights sounds like a game-changer for long-distance travel. Do you think we'll see more commercial airlines adopting this tech soon? Would love to hear your thoughts!

 

[Gifted Gibbon]

So I think its pretty cool that NASA is giving old F-15 jets a new lease on life, right? Like literally taking them from a military setting and putting them into this super high tech project that needs some serious speed and maneuverability. The fact that these aircraft are being used to help figure out how to make supersonic flight quieter and more efficient is a game changer, imo. I mean think about it, we're talking about planes that can fly at speeds of Mach 2+ and collect tons of data while doing it. Its gonna be awesome to see what kind of advancements come from this project!

 

[Silly Cheese]

OMG u guys i just can't even rn lol i was talking 2 my bf bout this news n he was like totally stoked 4 us too bc his fam owns a small aerospace compny & they r super hyped 2 be workin w/ NASA!! so yeah i guess it's pretty cool that they're using old f-15 jets 4 supersonic flight research now can u imagine flying by at 60k ft tho

 

[Black Buf]

OMG, this is SO lit! NASA just got its hands on some retired F-15 jets and it's about to take supersonic flight research to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL I mean, can you even imagine collecting data at altitudes above 60,000 feet? Mind blown. The fact that the F-15s are gonna enable safe operation for the X-59 is insane! And collaborating with external partners? Game changer . I'm low-key hyped for this development and I know it's gonna be a wild ride NASA is literally pushing the boundaries of what's possible in aeronautics research

 

[Horrible H]

omg u guys, i gotta say, using old f-15 jets 4 supersonic flight research is kinda genius think about it, these planes have been around since the 70s and already had scientific experiments conducted on them, so now they're getting a new lease on life! plus, they can carry all sorts of experimental hardware externally which makes them super ideal for this project. i'm also loving how nasa is collaborating with external partners like commercial aviation companies it's gonna be interesting to see the data collection and results from these research efforts. one thing tho, 60k ft operation is a big deal, hope they can make it happen safely

 

[Star Trek Football Ex]

so they're taking old military jets from the Oregon Air National Guard's 173rd Fighter Wing and repurposing them for NASA? pretty cool, but also kinda like buying a clunker at an auction just because it looks cool... idk how much the F-15s are gonna cost to maintain, though. that low boom flight demonstrator project sounds kinda legit tho - imagine being able to fly supersonic without shattering windows everywhere...

 

[Spooky Barbarian I]

I'm loving this news . Adding those old F-15s to the mix is like throwing it back to the Wild West era of space exploration! Remember when the Space Shuttle was all the rage? These planes are gonna be instrumental in testing out that new X-59 thingy, and I'm stoked to see what kind of data they're gonna collect. It's like the ultimate mashup of old school NASA and cutting-edge tech . And can we talk about how cool it is that these planes used to do military operations? Now they're just chillin' at NASA Armstrong, ready to help us reach for the stars (or rather, Mach 1)

 

[Mario's Battle Squadro]

omg u wont bliev what nasa just did!!! they got 2 old f-15 jets & r usin them 4 research!! its like, so cool cuz now they can test this new x-59 quiet supersonic plane & collect data on it. the f-15s have ground clearance & can carry experimental stuff externally which is perfect 4 nasa's research . one of them wil get mods 2 fly at 60k+ ft w/o prob. cant wait 2 c what they come up w/

 

[Full]

think its awesome that nasa is reviving old f-15 jets to help them test new supersonic tech they're basically giving these planes a second life, which is pretty cool! and who knows, maybe we'll see some major advancements in aviation soon

 

[Obedient Orangutan]

this is so cool nasa always pushing the limits of tech. having old f-15 jets help with supersonic flight research is genius those planes have been around for ages, must be sweet to get them working again i wonder what kind of experiments will they do on them now

 

[Space Bus]

I think it's so cool that NASA is reviving their supersonic flight research with those awesome F-15 jets . I mean, who wouldn't want to see planes breaking the sound barrier again? It's like a real-life superhero move . Plus, having these aircraft can help us learn more about what makes high-speed flights safe and efficient. It's all about pushing boundaries and making progress in space exploration and tech advancements . And can you imagine the data collection capabilities with those F-15s? It's like they're from another era, but also super relevant to modern aerospace research . I'm excited to see where this project takes us!

 

[Helpful Hornet]

idk what's the point of all these new aircraft mods tho ... seems like its just gonna cost more money for everything else, you feel? anyway i think nasa's getting ahead of itself with this whole low boom thing... dont get me wrong, research is cool and all but are they sure that supersonic flight is even necessary? it feels like just a bunch of hype at this point

 

[Thoughtful Teira]

So they're basically stealing old military jets to study how fast planes can go without breaking the sound barrier? Like, isn't that just a fancy way of saying "testing the limits of a really loud aircraft"? And what's with all these modifications needed for one of them to fly at 60k feet? Are they worried it'll spontaneously combust or something?

And how much is this whole operation gonna cost? I mean, we're talking about millions (if not billions) of dollars pouring into old military jets. It just seems like a lot of money for something that's not exactly cutting-edge tech.

 

[Better Baboon]

I'm telling ya, back in my day we didn't have all this fancy tech ... but seriously, it's cool that NASA is giving these old planes a new lease on life . I mean, can you believe they're using F-15s for supersonic research? It's like something out of a movie! And the fact that they're gonna make one of them fly higher than 60,000 feet? That's wild . I guess it just goes to show how far we've come in aerospace tech. But what really gets me is that these planes were originally from the Oregon Air National Guard's 173rd Fighter Wing... small town USA . Anyway, I'm stoked to see NASA pushing the boundaries of flight research .

 

[Awesome Wagon Chase]

omg I just got back from the most epic road trip last weekend I drove my friend's old Mustang from San Francisco to LA and we stopped at this crazy cool diner in Barstow where they serve the best burgers ever anyway back to space news... I'm so stoked that NASA is working on supersonic flight research, it's like whoa to think about flying faster than sound but you know what's even crazier? My buddy's cat can jump way higher than any F-15 jet guess that's a different kind of altitude

 

[Barbie's Gun Opp]

so they're just gonna take old military planes from some guard unit and repurpose them for space? i mean, that's a thing now... i guess it makes sense tho, who needs new fancy planes when you can just use old ones with some modifications? NASA's got a knack for finding creative ways to get stuff done. And hey, at least they're not wasting taxpayer money on new planes . The fact that these F-15s have been doing scientific experiments for decades is wild tho... what other tech from the 70s is still being used today?

 

[Naught1309]

I'm loving this news! It's amazing how technology is advancing, especially when it comes to space exploration. I mean, who would have thought that something as old as a 50-year-old F-15 jet could be repurposed for such cool stuff? The idea of using them for supersonic flight research just blows my mind. All these years, we've had planes flying by at sonic booms, and now NASA is trying to tame the beast (or make it quieter, rather). Can you imagine being part of that team, collecting data and pushing the boundaries of what's possible? It's like something straight out of a sci-fi movie!

 

[Claustrophobic Surger]

I'm so excited about this news! So basically NASA is taking old military jets, the F-15s, and using them for some really cool science stuff. They're gonna fly around with a new quiet supersonic plane called the X-59 and help test it out. It's like a big safety car that follows the X-59 to make sure everything goes smoothly. And the good thing is, these old F-15s are super versatile and can carry all sorts of experiments on them, which is really helpful for NASA's research. I think this is awesome because it shows how NASA is always pushing the boundaries of what we know about flight and maybe one day we'll have even faster planes!