the history of nasa's dryden flight
research facility is filled with many
accomplishments that led to it becoming
the premier high-speed flight research
center in the nation from the x1 to the
x31 Dryden has been at the forefront of
research innovations as we enter the
21st century Dryden is again ready to
lead the way
this is the idea the integrated test
facility the ITF is a tailor-made Center
for the efficient and thorough testing
of advanced highly integrated planes of
the future the design of the ITF with
its six test phase simulation labs and
support systems is well suited to meet
the challenges in the research of
tomorrow's complex highly advanced
aircraft the thrust vectoring f-18 high
alpha research vehicle x31 aircraft and
the x 13 asp the national aerospace
plane are just some of the projects the
ITF will support how does a premier
flight test facility like this come to
be a team effort involving NASA burns
McDonald engineering + construction
contractors and subcontractors their
leadership dedication and hard work have
brought about the ITF here is a trip
through time as we look at the making of
the integrated test facility from
concept completion building a facility
for the present and the future
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building a structure this size requires
a great deal of work even at the ground
level land is surveyed earth is moved
forms are built and concrete is mixed
and poured into the forms making up the
foundation for the building
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like our bones and skin give our body
structure so to the ITF has a structure
made up of steel and concrete to help
support it here we see the early
progression of the test phase on either
end an office and support areas rising
in the middle
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with the outer structure having risen
work is being done to form the network
of pipes that provide essentials such as
water and air conditioning work is also
being done to prepare the ground where
test Bay floors will be placed outside
forms are built and then poured to make
up the test bay ramp areas
air-conditioning and power are now
supplied to the building and outside
exterior walls are being finished
blacktop is being laid and inside
electrical fixtures continue to be
installed test bay floor forms are
constructed and concrete laid
the hallways office areas technical
shops and control rooms begin to assume
their final form
with the building nearing completion a
series of tests are conducted on the
fire suppression system in each of the
test phase this system is vital to
protecting the advanced aircraft the
facility will support
the final touches are completed and the
ITF becomes an operational facility
people and planes move into the offices
and tests pays the promise that began
with a few shovels of dirt has been
fulfilled a premier facility for the
testing of the advanced highly
integrated planes of the future
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the integrated test facility built with
teamwork engineering and dedication will
provide a national resource for NASA and
the aerospace community a facility for
the present and the future