Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities (FDC) Project

The Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities (FDC) project conducts complex, integrated small-scale flight research to validate the benefits of new technologies. By modifying aircraft from its support fleet, FDC enables aggressive, success-oriented flight campaign schedules and supports technologies at all phases of maturation, even as many are at mid-levels of technology readiness.

FDC’s support aircraft provide safety chase and in-flight experimental measurements for a variety of NASA missions. The project collaborates with academia, industry, and government organizations to leverage flight opportunities and engages with NASA researchers and university students to bring innovative concepts to flight.

It operates, sustains, and enhances national flight research capabilities that enable complex, high-risk flight research for both NASA and the aviation industry.

flight demonstrations, flight research, nasa, fdc, support aircraft, aircraft modification, safety chase, in-flight measurements, technology readiness, flight campaigns