This volume contains an investigation of remotely piloted research vehicle (RPRV) and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) mishaps and will examine their causes, consequences, resultant corrective actions, and lessons learned. Most undesired outcomes usually do not occur because of a single event, but rather from a series of events and actions involving equipment malfunctions and/or human factors. This book comprises a series of case studies focusing mostly on accidents and incidents involving experimental aircraft. The information provided should be of use to flight-test organizations, aircraft operators, educators, and students, among others. These lessons are not unique to the UAS environment and are also applicable to human aviation and space flight activities. Common elements include crew resource management, training, mission planning issues, management and programmatic pressures (e.g., schedule, budget, resources), cockpit/control station design, and other factors. (Contains copyright material)

Crash Course: Lessons Learned from Accidents Involving Remotely Piloted and Autonomous Aircraft: Lessons Learned from Accidents Involving Remotely Piloted and Autonomous Ircraft (NASA Sp)

History

Merlin, Peter W.

Military

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate

Area 51, a top secret military installation for testing unacknowledged, or black, projects, lies in a desert valley northwest of Las Vegas. During the Cold War, CIA and Air Force officials chose this remote location to shield such efforts from foreign spies and US citizens. Although the base has been known by many names―Paradise Ranch, Watertown, and Dreamland, among others―the designation “Area 51” has taken root most deeply in the public imagination. Since 1955, it has grown from a temporary camp into a national test facility supporting nearly 2,000 military and civilian workers and dozens of projects, including aircraft capable of cruising at Mach 3 and stealth airplanes that are virtually invisible to radar. Although secrecy surrounding Area 51 spawned rumors of UFOs and reverse-engineered alien spacecraft, declassified photographs provide a rare glimpse into the true nature of America’s most famous secret base.

Area 51 (Images of Aviation)

Americas

Arcadia Publishing

Tells the dramatic story of a NASA research pilot who logged over 11,000 flight hours in more than 125 types of aircraft. Donald Mallick gives the reader fascinating first-hand descriptions of his early naval flight training, carrier operations, and his research flying career with NASA and NACA. Mallick joined the NACA as a research pilot where he flew modified helicopters and jets, and witnessed NACA¹s evolution into NASA. His later projects pushed the boundaries of aerospace tech., including the giant delta-winged SB-70 supersonic research airplane, the wingless M2-F1 lifting body vehicle, and the triple-sonic YF-12 Blackbird. Mallick also test flew the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle and helped develop techniques used in training astronauts to land on the Moon. Illus.

Smell of Kerosene: A Test Pilot's Odyssey

Engineering & Transportation

Mallick, Donald L.

Transportation

NASA History Series

Discover the enigmatic secrets of Area 51, a clandestine military base nestled in the arid expanses of the Las Vegas desert.\nUnraveling the veil of speculation and conspiracy that has shrouded this facility since its establishment in 1955, esteemed aerospace historian Peter Merlin presents a meticulously researched and captivating account of its evolution. From its humble origins as a makeshift outpost to its metamorphosis into a premier hub for testing advanced aviation technologies and cutting-edge weaponry, Merlin unveils the true chronicle behind Area 51.\nDrawing on a wealth of declassified documents and exclusive interviews, this enthralling narrative provides an unprecedented level of insight into the inner workings of this highly classified institution. The text is complemented by an impressive array of over 700 images, many of which have never been unveiled to the public, and readers will be immersed in a visual journey that brings this hidden world to life.\nRenowned author Peter Merlin, recognized for his expertise in aerospace history, has shared his knowledge in numerous esteemed film and television documentaries for reputable networks such as the History Channel, Discovery, National Geographic, and Smithsonian. In crafting this manuscript, he upholds the same rigorous academic standards employed in his works published by esteemed institutions such as NASA and the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics.\nEmbark on an extraordinary exploration of Area 51 that will forever alter your perception of this enigmatic military stronghold. Peter Merlin’s meticulously researched account, enriched with unprecedented visuals and backed by his extensive expertise, unveils the truth behind the myths and legends surrounding this extraordinary facility.

Dreamland: The Secret History of Area 51

Schiffer Military History

The Smell of Kerosene tells the dramatic story of a NASA research pilot who logged over 11,000 flight hours in more than 125 types of aircraft. Donald Mallick gives the reader fascinating first- hand descriptions of his early naval flight training, carrier operations, and his research flying career with NASA and its predecessor agency, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). Mallick joined the NACA as a research pilot at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory at Hampton, Virginia, where he flew modified helicopters and jets, and witnessed the NACA's evolution into the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. After transferring to the NASA Flight Research Center (now NASA Dryden Flight Research Center) at Edwards, California, he became involved with projects that further pushed the boundaries of aerospace technology. These included the giant delta-winged XB-70 supersonic research airplane, the wingless M2-F1 lifting body vehicle, and the triple-sonic YF-12 Blackbird. Mallick also test flew the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) and helped develop techniques used in training astronauts to land on the Moon. This book puts the reader in the pilot's seat for a "day at the office" unlike any other. Donald L. Mallick joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics as a research pilot in 1957. He retired in 1987 as Deputy Chief of the Aircraft Operations Division at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. During his distinguished career, Mallick logged over 11,000 flight hours in more than 125 different types of aircraft. He is a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. Peter W. Merlin has worked as an archivist in the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center History Office since June 1997. He has published Mach 3+: NASA/USAF YF-12 Flight Research, 1969-1979 (NASA SP-2001-4525) as well as many articles on aerospace history.

The Smell of Kerosene: A Test Pilot's Odyssey

Biographies & Memoirs

University Press of the Pacific

Tonopah Test Range (Images of America)

Established by Sandia Corporation in 1957, Tonopah Test Range (TTR) in Nevada provided an isolated place for the Atomic Energy Commission and successor agencies to test ballistic characteristics and non-nuclear components of atomic bombs. Also known as Area 52, the vast outdoor laboratory served this purpose throughout the Cold War arms race and continues to play a vital role in the stewardship and maintenance of the United States' nuclear arsenal. The range has been used for training exercises, testing rockets, development of electronic warfare systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, and nuclear safety experiments. During the late 1970s, the Air Force constructed an airfield for a clandestine squadron of captured Russian fighter planes that were used for tactical evaluations and to provide realistic air combat training for thousands of US airmen. The TTR airfield also served as the first operational base for the F-117A stealth fighter, an airplane designed to be virtually invisible to detection by radar. Now operated primarily by Sandia National Laboratories for the Department of Energy and, in part, by the Air Force Materiel Command, TTR remains a valuable national asset with unparalleled capabilities.

Since Pres. Harry Truman established the Nevada Test Site (NTS) in December 1950, it has played a vital role in the security of the United States. For four decades, the test site's primary purpose was developmental testing of nuclear explosives. Atmospheric tests conducted over Yucca Flat and Frenchman Flat between 1951 and 1962 involved thousands of Army troops and Marines simulating nuclear battlefield conditions. Civil defense planners studied blast and radiation effects and evaluated bomb shelter designs. Testing moved underground in 1963 to eliminate radioactive fallout. Other projects at the NTS included nuclear rocket engine development for space travel, training for NASA's Apollo astronauts, excavation experiments, radioactive waste storage studies, and aircraft testing. Since the last underground nuclear test in 1992, this geographically diverse testing and training complex north of Las Vegas--known since 2010 as the Nevada National Security Site--has been used to support nuclear stockpile stewardship and as a unique outdoor laboratory for government and industry research and development efforts.

Nevada Test Site (Images of America)

In 2006, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, obtained a civil version of the General Atomics MQ-9 unmanned aircraft system and modified it for research purposes. Proposed missions included support of Earth Science research, development of advanced aeronautical technology, and improving quality in general.

Ikhana: Unmanned Aircraft System Western States Fire Missions

Science & Math

Astronomy & Space Science

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Breaking the Mishap Chain: Human Factors Lessons Learned From Aerospace Accidents and Incidents in Research, Flight Test, and Development

NASA Aeronautics Book Series. By Peter W. Merlin, et al. Contains a collection of case studies of mishaps involving experimental aircraft, aerospace vehicles, and spacecraft in which human factors played a significant role. Offered as a learning tool so that future organizations, programs, and projects may not be destined to repeat the mistakes of the past. Written in such a way as to be useful to a wide audience. Each case study includes a detailed analysis of aeromedical and organizational factors for the benefit of students, teachers, and others with an academic interest in human factors issues in the aerospace environment. Each story includes historical background.

Bendrick, Gregg A

Dwight A. Holland

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Merlin, Peter W.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Merlin, Peter W.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Merlin, Peter W.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Crash Course: Lessons Learned from Accidents Involving Remotely Piloted and Autonomous Aircraft: Lessons Learned from Accidents Involving Remotely Piloted and Autonomous Ircraft (NASA Sp)

Area 51 (Images of Aviation)

Smell of Kerosene: A Test Pilot's Odyssey

Dreamland: The Secret History of Area 51

The Smell of Kerosene: A Test Pilot's Odyssey

Tonopah Test Range (Images of America)

Nevada Test Site (Images of America)

Ikhana: Unmanned Aircraft System Western States Fire Missions

Breaking the Mishap Chain: Human Factors Lessons Learned From Aerospace Accidents and Incidents in Research, Flight Test, and Development

The Smell of Kerosene: A Test Pilot's Odyssey