115 - NASA Flight Test

The letter S seems to have an outsized presence in the name NASA. Space. True, the space program dominates NASA's media and Hollywood presence but there is a whole lot more to that less well known proceeding A. Aeronautics. From the X-1 which first broke the "sound barrier" to the X-59 Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator, NASA, and its predecessor NACA, plays an important role in flight research flying a dizzying array of military aircraft and one-of-a-kind prototypes.
On this episode, retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Nils "Thrills" Larson joins us to explain the mission, history, and aircraft of NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center based at Edwards AFB, CA, and how it fits in with other NASA agencies. Episode 22 guest Becky "Wrecky" Shaw returns as cohost to lend a hand and explains how NASA and NOAA collaborate on flight research.
Episode artwork by Janek Krause. Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell.

[@tonyaanderson311]

So happy this podcast found me. Great way to start a Monday morning. Joy to listen. Thanks!

[@misskristyannritchie856]

Right

[@hadrifter25]

Awesome episode all my respects to the guest for all that knowledge and aircrafts he's capable to fly, i have enough information with the F/A18 and F16 that i fly in DCS, these people are special. Greetings from Switzerland.

[@TheAviationSurf]

Seriously, have been binge watching all the videos lately, the way you host is amazing and very enticing!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks very much.

[@D5Pasadena]

Jell-O: “All the time. All the time.” LOL

[@Crunch104]

Very cool episode. Thanks!

[@Waltham1892]

I just heard about your brother. My condolences to your family and your brother's family.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks 🙏

[@michaelmulligan0]

Is the data made available to all aircraft manufacturers (eg Airbus) or just US ?

[@terryboyer1342]

A question for Thrills. An F-16 of the Wisc ANG crashed in upper Mich in Dec 2020. Preliminary cause is pilot disorientation and impact with terrain. I was puzzled because F-16s have the auto-GCAS that should have prevented it. But the article also stated the pilot had degraded GPS signals and was trying to correct them in bad weather at night contributing to his loss of situational awareness. My question is could the degraded GPS been the cause of the auto-GCAS failing to have prevented impact?

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Lots of systems are intertwined, so could have been that the inertial navigation system was degraded because it didn’t get the GPS updates, and the plane map database didn’t know where it was, so the system didn’t recognize the danger and automatically recover. Just a guess, but it’s plausible.

[@Mike41919]

Sweet

[@anttiheino8638]

Another awesome episode, thank you. The only laboursome thing about the podcast is that I have to try to translate some of it to my 11 year old son, who wants to fly the charlie for the air force once he gets to the age.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Hopefully it’s a labor of love, Antii! Thanks so much for taking the time to do that for him, I’m sure he loves the quality time!

[@anttiheino8638]

Im more than happy to do it. Quality time indeed!

[@krissobieski4341]

Could you do an episode on the Dassault Mirage F-1 please? Draken International have them, Stretch should know some people who fly them currently.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

It's on the list, Kris.

[@krissobieski4341]

@@FighterPilotPodcast Thank you! Looking forward to it.

[@andrewgraham2533]

Warheads on foreheads, haha gold!

[@ashokiimc]

Some years back I spotted a NASA F-15D in the Death Valley. She was beautiful.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Very unique!

[@appa609]

Probably F-15B.

[@ashokiimc]

@@appa609 oh yeah it definitely could’ve been that, i just remembered that it was a 2 seater eagle and just assumed it was the d model

[@jdkgcp]

Is he sure it isn't because "Thrills" rhymes with "Nils"? Considering that's not exactly a common name. I'm guessing that golf convo, using my 5th grade humor level went more like "Look at Nils the Thrills". I'm guessing it's even more basic than he remembers. It just rhymes.

[@Zakariah1971]

Echo... is he on speakerphone?

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Technical difficulties. We’ll do better next time!

[@Zakariah1971]

Great audio. Sounds like he is broadcasting from a tin can.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Had some technical difficulties. We’ll keep trying to improve!