News

ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. – The AEDC T-11 engine test cell at Arnold Air Force Base has been enhanced to perform a wide variety of research tests in addition to its primary role of testing small engines in a direct-connect configuration.

The Air Force Project Manager for upcoming technology tests in T-11, Joshua Osborne, explained that one of the largest benefits is that this provides a cost effective way to develop and prove needed test techniques at a lower scale or at the component level to reduce risk to high-cost advanced weapon systems.
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ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. – The Air Engineering Metal Trades Council – AEDC’s largest union – installed its newly elected officers recently.

Jay Vandergriff retired Jan. 25 and passed the gavel to Alvin Cleek, who was elected as the Council’s new president. Cleek has worked at AEDC for 13 years and has been an ironworker for 33 years. He has served as chief steward for the ironworkers and carpenters for the past 9 years. Prior to that he was trustee and vice president.
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ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. – AEDC analysis team members have developed and demonstrated a first generation full frequency range screech analysis methodology for a re-heater on turbine engines to reduce instability when testing in the facilities at Arnold Air Force Base.

Innovative ideas like this one are common in daily work across AEDC and the U.S. Air Force, as the Air Force is known for its dedication in innovation and delivering war winning capabilities to the warfighter by inspiring and providing the necessary tools and support.
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ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. – A team effort between personnel at AEDC Hypervelocity Wind Tunnel 9 in White Oak, Maryland, and Arnold Air Force Base recently facilitated the replacement of the 20-year-old Tunnel 9 system used to record, process and display test data.

Last month, Tunnel 9 completed the final installation and necessary sign-offs for its new Enterprise Data Acquisition and Processing System (EDAPS). EDAPS replaces the Legacy Data Acquisition and Recording Equipment (DARE) IX system used previously at Tunnel 9 and marks the first installation of EDAPS outside of Tennessee.
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ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. – The growth of AEDC’s critical role in providing the United States Armed Forces with developmental test and evaluation support for the newest and premier weapon systems continues with the stand up of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Combined Test Force (CTF) to support modernization and life extension for the LGM-30 Minuteman III (MMIII) and development of the next generation Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) ICBM.
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ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. – The team at AEDC Hypervelocity Wind Tunnel 9 in White Oak, Maryland, has for some time considered a 360-degree capability for tests involving temperature-sensitive paint, or TSP, and has worked for about a year on ways to achieve it.

Thanks to recent innovations developed after a customer’s need provided a push, the Tunnel 9 team’s TSP capability is now one step closer to painting the entire picture on wind tunnel models. The team built a prototype system mounted in the plenum of the T9 test cell tunnel to allow for data collection from the bottom of the test cell – the most challenging view from an engineering perspective.
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ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. – Students from all over the Middle Tennessee area will be teaming up with AEDC engineers at Arnold Air Force Base to experience work environments and participate in competitions during National Engineers Week, Feb. 18-24.

As part of Engineers Week, engineers from the Base and throughout the local region volunteer their time to assist with mentoring opportunities and activities geared toward engineering concepts.
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ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. – Bridge to the Future, an event hosted by National Aerospace Solutions, the Test Operations and Sustainment contractor for AEDC, provided college-age students of AEDC team members the chance to see where their family works and learn about the many career opportunities available at Arnold Air Force Base.

During the event, the participants heard from several individuals in leadership roles at Arnold AFB, which included AEDC Commander Col. Scott Cain and Col. Raymond Briggs, chief of the Arnold Air Force Base Test Systems Sustainment branch, NAS General Manager Cynthia Rivera and NAS Deputy General Manager Doug Pearson, among others. They also took a tour of the test facilities and then had one-on-one time with a mentor working in their particular area of interest.
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ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. – The Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser space plane recently had a successful free-flight test over the Mojave Desert in California, later making its landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

The Hypersonic CTF at Edwards AFB is managed by AEDC, which is headquartered at Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee.
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ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. – National Aerospace Solutions (NAS) Team members with the AEDC Test Operations and Sustainment contract received awards for their contributions to NAS and AEDC during the 2017 NAS Salute to Excellence Annual Awards Banquet. Held at the Arnold Lakeside Center Nov. 16, each award winner was recognized by a member of the NAS senior management team and presented with a commemorative plaque and a cash award.
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