Highly specialized and customizable rotary and fixed-wing research aircraft to assist industry with the testing and demonstration of aeronautical technologies
The National Research Council Canada (NRC) is a well-established flight testing centre with decades of experience and world-class expertise to support industry in bringing new technologies to market more rapidly while meeting forthcoming regulatory and environmental standards. We support Canadian avionics manufacturers on advanced technologies that will be used in next-generation aircraft and modern helicopter cockpits. Side-arm controllers, programmable head down displays, speech I/O and helmet-mounted displays are some of the technologies being demonstrated and perfected in our realistic airborne simulator.
We are constantly developing and improving the on-board installations of our aircraft to meet the latest technological needs of our clients, putting them at the forefront of aeronautical research. All of our aircraft are supported by an experienced technical team who conduct focused and responsive airborne research and experimentation.
- Airborne research
- Testing and demonstration of aeronautical technologies in the areas of airborne research, flight mechanics and avionics
Our facilities are also used to support pilot education and certifications.
- Aerospace and satellites
- Defence and security industries
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Forestry and forest-based industries
- Manufacturing and processing
- Professional and technical services (including legal services, architecture, engineering)
- Transportation
Specialized labs and equipment
|
Equipment |
Function |
|---|---|
|
Bell 412: Twin-engine utility helicopter configured as a four degrees of freedom (4-DOF) simulator |
Research in airborne simulation, handling qualities, advanced/active controls, pilot-vehicle interface, aircraft systems |
|
Bell 205: Highly modified single-engine utility helicopter |
Ideal platform for research into digital fly-by-wire control systems and human interface issues |
|
Bell 206: Single-engine, teetering rotor, light-utility helicopter |
Dual flight controls; provisions for two researchers in back seat, incl. an instrumented flight test engineering station |
|
Convair 580: Twin-turboprop, pressurized aircraft capable of medium altitude, long distance operations |
Remote sensing, in-situ atmospheric sampling, pollution studies, radar and Lidar research; ISR testbed |
|
Falcon 20: Twin-engine business jet, capable of relatively high speed and altitude operations |
Use in microgravity experiments (parabolic flight trajectories); separate feeder tanks for alternate fuels research |
|
Harvard: Single-engine propeller aircraft |
Capable of high-g "aerobatic" manoeuvers; carries 2 pilots and an advanced instrumentation package in the rear seat |
|
Twin Otter: Twin-turboprop, unpressurized high-wing STOL aircraft |
Remote sensing, in-situ atmospheric sampling; flight mechanics; flight systems development and integration; hyperspectral and electro-optic imaging |
|
T-33: High-speed (to 500 KIAS), high G (-3.0 to +7.33), high altitude jet aircraft |
Equipped for research in airborne emissions sampling, in-flight turbulence and flight mechanics |