In 2025, NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center integrated new aircraft including two F-15 supersonic jets, a Pilatus PC-12 utility plane, and a T-34 turboprop trainer to enhance its fleet. The center maintains a legacy of testing various aircraft, from the rocket-powered X-15 to high-speed fighters like the F-18, supporting NASA’s airborne science missions with manned flying laboratories.
Armstrong's pilots and teams support global airborne science efforts, flying scientists and equipment to collect data on air pollution, glaciers, and wildfires. This operational expertise and aircraft diversity enable ongoing experimental research crucial to aerospace progress, sustaining the center's historic role in flight research.
Source & further reading
Meet the Fleet: NASA Armstrong Continues Legacy of Flight Research ↗Source published 2026-05-07. This report was prepared with AI assistance from the linked primary-source material. Claims and limitations should be checked against the original announcement or research.