November 30,1998 X-Press

Volume 40 Issue 22 Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California November 30, 1998

Lear Jet gets new cameras

By Gray Creech
Aerospace Projects Writer

Dryden's Lear Jet Model 24 flight research support aircraft recently had two advanced infrared (IR) cameras installed to support the Center's flight research mission.

The new camera system, developed by the NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., consists of the two cameras and their mounting ball joints. Six- and 10-inch diameter holes located in the aircraft's upper fuselage provide an unobstructed view for the cameras.

NASA Photo by Tony Landis
NASA's Lear Jet Model 24 flight research support aircreaft had two advanced infrared cameras installed. The combination of the two cameras, which are mounted in the top of the aircrat's fuselage, give high resolution infrared imaged throughout the infrared spectrum. The flexibility of the cameras adds to the aircraft's versatility.

"The two ball-joints installed in the zenith ports give us the flexibility to install any combination of a long-wave IR camera, a medium-wave IR camera or an emission spectrometer so we can tailor the aircraft to the customer's needs. The two ball joints are slaved together for co-axial tracking and we can record up to 27 gigabytes of data," says Tony Ginn, Dryden's Lear Jet operations engineer.

The current combination of the two cameras give high resolution infrared images throughout the infrared spectrum. The added flexibility of the infrared imaging system increases the versatility of this aircraft as a mission support aircraft for aerodynamic research and investigation of other advanced technologies.

The Lear Jet is a Model 24 corporate class, high altitude, high performance vehicle powered by two General Electric jet engines delivering a maximum thrust of 2,950 lbs. each.

The aircraft is an economical, quick-response research aircraft, capable of take-off and landings at many small to medium size airports closed to larger heavier aircraft. Capable of flying 1,500 nautical miles, at an altitude of 45,000 feet, it can support an experimental payload of 1,200 lbs. Special systems have been installed in this aircraft in the past supporting a wide range of research programs. The aircraft accommodates one or two experimenters during a given mission. And of course, weight trade-offs can be made. For example, if only one experimenter is required, additional equipment can be carried.

Formerly, the Lear Jet 24 served in NASA's Airborne Observatory Program operating from Ames Research Center. In that role, the Lear Jet 24 acquired data for airborne observatory research using an airborne astronomical infrared telescope.

The aircraft provided a base for a wide variety of experiments and sensors collecting data in support of scientific projects supported by NASA, as well as other federal, state, university, and industrial investigators. Major areas of activity included astronomical, meteorological, planetary, atmospheric and geophysical programs.

NASA Photo by Tony Landis

Being a high altitude, high performance aircraft, the Lear Jet Airborne Observatory flew scientific surveys over the continents of North America, South American, Europe and Australia. Locations included Samoa, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Brazil, France, Greece, Guatemala, Panama, Bermuda and the Arctic.

A partial list of missions completed includes: first Venus cloud cover analysis, boundary layer programs, first measurement of extra-solar far-infrared ionic structure lines, Quadantid meteor shower expedition, air pollution studies, solar eclipse missions, infrared atmospheric radiance study, barium ion upper atmospheric release, lightning spectral study, low level wind shear studies, Cape Canaveral mission launch support and high altitude infrared astronomical research.

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November 13, 1998 X-Press

Responsible NASA Official: John Childress
For questions, contact: Dryden Web Group
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Modified: November 30, 1998