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The following discussions
document contributions of the NASA Langley Research
Center to the civil aircraft of the United States
in the 1990s. The specific examples were selected
on the basis of demonstrated applications of Langley’s
research concepts and the importance of the impact
and value to civil aviation and the general public.
The contributions to civil aircraft include applications
to large commercial transports, business jets,
and small personal-owner aircraft. The discussions
focus on the conceptual research processes that
produced these contributions, the key researchers
involved, the technology maturation processes that
reduced risk and prepared the technology for industrial
applications, and examples of specific industry
and government applications of the Langley contributions.
The Langley research culture
that produced these contributions is solidly based
on team participation and the personal dedication
and technical contributions of many individuals.
Names of some of the key researchers involved have
been included for guidance to those interested
in expanding the information and gathering more
detailed data regarding the accomplishments. The
reader will also observe the extensive interactive
and cooperative research activities between Langley;
other NASA Centers; and industry, government, and
university partners. Such interactions have consistently
been major factors in the success of the NASA aeronautics
research program. Also evident throughout the material
are the key roles played by Langley facilities,
including wind tunnels, laboratories, special test
facilities, advanced computing and simulation facilities,
and research aircraft. These unique national assets
have permitted the development of advanced concepts
and technology that have removed roadblocks and
met significant challenges—and, in so doing,
enabled a strong U.S. aviation industry.
Many of the aircraft of the
1990s used technology that was first explored by
NASA as long as 30 years prior to its application.
This fact serves to emphasize the necessity of
the continuous pursuit of research concepts through
technical barriers into maturity, so that technology
can be transferred when the Nation requires it.
It is also appropriate to point out that the development
and the introduction of new, large commercial transport
aircraft have occurred at relatively infrequent
intervals in recent years. For example, the first
flights of the Boeing 737 and Boeing 747 occurred
in 1967 and 1969, respectively. The first flights
of the 767 and 757 took place in 1981 and 1982,
respectively, and the first 777 flew over a decade
later in 1994. No new nonderivative large commercial
jets entered the U.S. inventory during the last
half of the 1990s. On the other hand, a large number
of new business jets and general aviation aircraft
have been developed on a more frequent basis, and
these configurations have incorporated many of
the newest technology advances provided by NASA
research.
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