Engineering:Experimental aircraft
An experimental aircraft is an aircraft intended for testing new aerospace technologies and design concepts.[1]
The term research aircraft or testbed aircraft, by contrast, generally denotes aircraft modified to perform scientific studies, such as weather research or geophysical surveying, similar to a research vessel.[2]
The term "experimental aircraft" also has specific legal meaning in Australia, the United States and some other countries; usually used to refer to aircraft flown with an experimental certificate.[3] In the United States, this also includes most homebuilt aircraft, many of which are based on conventional designs and hence are experimental only in name because of certain restrictions in operation.[4]
See also
- Index of aviation articles
- Experimental Aircraft Association
- Experimental Aircraft Programme
- List of experimental aircraft
- List of X-planes
- Testbed aircraft
- Technology demonstration
References
- ↑ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (September 3, 2025). "X-Planes". https://www.nasa.gov/armstrong/capabilities-facilities/aircraft-at-armstrong/x-planes-at-armstrong/.
- ↑ "NOAA research aircraft". https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/about_hrd/aircraft.html.
- ↑ 14CFR 21.175 , US Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved 2018-01-12
- ↑ 14CFR 21.191 , US Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved 2018-01-12
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