
As you watch this lesson, consider that flight test is one available tool in the toolbox of verification and validation (V&V). Flight test fits into this broader perspective, which includes:
Analysis
Modeling
Simulation
Laboratory tests of components and subsystems
Wind tunnel testing
Ground testing of the aircraft (e.g. climatic or anechoic chamber)
A project has a finite amount of time, people, assets, and funding... so how do we determine the optimum allocation of V&V? What unique attributes does flight testing offer?
The unique attributes of flight testing include:
High fidelity, dynamic flight environment
All systems working, with no simulation or emulation
Operational realism
Least dependent on assumptions
Flight Test for Success - Learn the fundamentals of flight test in about 90 minutes.
This course introduces aerospace professionals to flight test concepts for efficient development of successful products in elevated risk environments. Focus on strategies for test planning, risk management, and team structure in flight test programs.
Product teams and businesses using professional flight test methods are over twice as likely to result in a successful product, and complete operational development in one third the time.
Any new aerospace product is a bet on the future. Development timelines are usually measured in years, and require a multidisciplinary engineering team. Early application of professional flight test methodologies is proven to substantially reduce development costs and timelines, while improving customer and mission focus.
Yes, you should apply the principles of professional flight test long before there is a product to test.
Flight test practices are relevant across engineering disciplines and enhance both the aerospace professional and product team. This course's skill sets and tools accelerate product development and avoid costly disasters. Flight test is a team sport.
Flight test principles create value for aerospace development teams
Stay on schedule: Anticipating flight test requirements keeps projects on critical path. By planning parallel subsystem build-up tests, surprises are minimized later in the development cycle. The process is smooth, and smooth is quick.
Control the amount and types of risks: Flight test risk management does not mean zero risk, but includes powerful tools to anticipate specific hazards and identify mitigations.
Avoid costly redesign: Flight test reinforces requirements traceability with tools like system engineering. By incorporating "testability", product teams can minimize shifting goalposts and anticipate interfaces across the design.