Mark,
As a member of Eclipse Aviation's flight test team, I can tell you this
isn't exactly true.
As you might imagine, nowadays we use modern sensors to detect aileron,
elevator and rudder positions (as well as hundreds of other parameters).
A few reasons for the chase plane is so that data can be telemetered and
recorded on the test plane, chase plane and at a base station. It's
really convenient to record data on the chase when running remote tests.
The chase vehicle also allows the FT team to travel with the test and of
course for photography. You often see flight testing near Yuma, Arizona
because it's very hot there and it's experimental aircraft friendly.
Leadville Colorado and Reno Nevada are also popular destinations for
high altitude tests.
When our 2nd aircraft is tested, we'll telemeter ~750 channels of data
to the base, the data will be sent to workstations via the network (and
internet) so structural engineers will be able to analyze data as it
occurs. Tests will be modified on the spot to take advantage of the
fresh data.
Speaking of our ship, we are rolling out 'Aircraft 100' this Saturday in
Albuquerque to a crowd of nearly 2000. We'll achieve First Flight later
this month, and hope to certify in early 2004. If everything works out
as planned, I'll cash in my stock options and retire rich! :)
Check us out at www.eclipseaviation.com (unfortunately, the 'progress'
page, is woefully behind - we're almost flightworthy)...
Oh, if you have $837,000 laying around (less than 1/4 of what other
business jets cost), consider buying of of these gems. :)
Back to your regularly scheduled program.
On Wed, 2002-07-10 at 07:33, Mark Kuzia wrote:
>
> I have a simpler, less covert answer. It is probably just a flight test.
> When new aircraft are tested, they always have one or two aircraft flying
> inspection to make sure control surfaces are working properly, landing gear
> are retracting, etc. There are always new aircraft being tested such as
> cargo or ECM aircraft. Sometimes the obvious is the most likely.
>
> As for the Groom Lake Express, they are 737's, and as someone else stated,
> they do not have an escort. I also heard that the "Area 51" was relocated to
> Colorado/Utah area. But I also heard that they still use Groom Lake for some
> aircraft and secret testing.
>
> Thanks,
> Mark Kuzia
> Mark's Diecast Inc.
> flyboy01@comcast.net
> http://mywebpages.comcast.net/flyboy01/95daksale
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "William H. Hiatt III" <william@hiatt.net>
> To: <DAKOTA-TRUCK@dakota-truck.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 6:02 PM
> Subject: DML: A little off topic: Airplane buffs/Arizone people?
>
>
> >
> > I'm out here in Lake Havasu with the girlfriend and her family doing some
> > skiing. Every now and then (5-6 times a day) I see a trail from a jet. Pop
> > on the binoculars, it's a big white plane, I can't see any markings, and
> it
> > has 4 jet engines. I've noticed that there's another smaller plane always
> by
> > the large plane (within 1 or 1/2 mile), with no jet stream visible. Does
> > anyone know what those are? Military aircraft?
> >
> > On the plus side, the dak ran great on the way out to Havasu, and it was a
> > fun drive to make in the Dakota. (I usually drive my dad's Denali towing a
> > couple Seadoos when I come with my family)
> >
> > william
> >
>
>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jun 20 2003 - 12:05:03 EDT