This video offers a look into the Flight Test Facility at Lincoln Laboratory, which operates seven aircraft that are used to flight-test prototype systems for airborne applications. Researchers from across the Laboratory schedule flight time to evaluate and collect data from new antennas, imagers for air surveillance, aircraft collision-avoidance tools, and long-range RF and laser communication systems.
Our multipurpose fleet of aircraft is housed on Hanscom Air Force Base, just over a mile from the main Lincoln Laboratory complex. The aircraft are flown, maintained, and managed by licensed pilots, certified maintenance technicians, and administrative personnel whose first priority is flight safety. All flight procedures and equipment meet or exceed FAA requirements. Flight Test Facility personnel work with Laboratory researchers to make any needed modifications to the test aircraft and handle the integration of the prototype systems onto the aircraft. They also facilitate the researchers' tests by coordinating airspace, FAA certifications, and safety checks for the flight.
