typhoonpilot
Well-Known Member
Pretty good intel so far.
I would have to agree that the best way to get into experimental test is to go the military route and get to test pilot school. There is a civilian test pilot school in Mojave called the National Test Pilot School:
http://www.ntps.edu/index.php
The full course is just under $1 million so unless you're independently wealthy you need to find someone to pay your way for it.
Now all that said, there are other avenues. Boeing has Production Test pilots who do not necessarily have experimental test background. Often, at least at McDonnell Douglas, they were retired/furloughed airline pilots. They perform new aircraft test flights post-certification. At McDonnell Douglas ( not sure about Boeing these days ) they could and did fly right seat on experimental test flights, as did the Flight Training Airplane group.
In my time at McDonnell Douglas ( it was actually Boeing by then ) I did a few Production Test flights on the MD-90 and MD-80, and had I stayed would have done experimental test ( as an F.O. ) on the later stages of the B717 program. My background was pure civilian airline with 3000 PIC in type ( DC-9 and MD-80 when I was hired ).
The Production test started with "ground runs" . Basically powering up the aircraft to make sure everything works correctly. That leads to engine start and then taxi tests. This is all done via a book that becomes part of the aircraft's official certification. So lots of note taking of parameters. Once all the ground runs are okay the next step is a full flight. At McD that first flight would typically last 4 hours and one would test every system on the airplane. I.E. Depressurize the cabin slowly to see exactly when the Cabin Altitude warning went off, then continue to see exactly what altitude the masks dropped. Slow down at 1 knot per second to see exactly when the stick shaker activate. Speed up to see exactly when the high speed clacker went off. Down low and over at Palmdale we would do approaches to test every mode of the GPWS ; Too Low Gear, Too Low Flaps, Don't sink, etc.
Again all of this is getting written into a book as well as any snags noted. If there was anything that needed fixing then often a re-fly or two was in order.
Airlines often have a tech section. One of my classmates at USAir's father was in the NWA tech section. They did 3 engine ferry, post-maintenance test, aircraft acceptance, etc
Good luck with the path, as noted, it's a pretty small community to get into experimental test so look for alternatives that are close would be my suggestion.
TP
I would have to agree that the best way to get into experimental test is to go the military route and get to test pilot school. There is a civilian test pilot school in Mojave called the National Test Pilot School:
http://www.ntps.edu/index.php
The full course is just under $1 million so unless you're independently wealthy you need to find someone to pay your way for it.
Now all that said, there are other avenues. Boeing has Production Test pilots who do not necessarily have experimental test background. Often, at least at McDonnell Douglas, they were retired/furloughed airline pilots. They perform new aircraft test flights post-certification. At McDonnell Douglas ( not sure about Boeing these days ) they could and did fly right seat on experimental test flights, as did the Flight Training Airplane group.
In my time at McDonnell Douglas ( it was actually Boeing by then ) I did a few Production Test flights on the MD-90 and MD-80, and had I stayed would have done experimental test ( as an F.O. ) on the later stages of the B717 program. My background was pure civilian airline with 3000 PIC in type ( DC-9 and MD-80 when I was hired ).
The Production test started with "ground runs" . Basically powering up the aircraft to make sure everything works correctly. That leads to engine start and then taxi tests. This is all done via a book that becomes part of the aircraft's official certification. So lots of note taking of parameters. Once all the ground runs are okay the next step is a full flight. At McD that first flight would typically last 4 hours and one would test every system on the airplane. I.E. Depressurize the cabin slowly to see exactly when the Cabin Altitude warning went off, then continue to see exactly what altitude the masks dropped. Slow down at 1 knot per second to see exactly when the stick shaker activate. Speed up to see exactly when the high speed clacker went off. Down low and over at Palmdale we would do approaches to test every mode of the GPWS ; Too Low Gear, Too Low Flaps, Don't sink, etc.
Again all of this is getting written into a book as well as any snags noted. If there was anything that needed fixing then often a re-fly or two was in order.
Airlines often have a tech section. One of my classmates at USAir's father was in the NWA tech section. They did 3 engine ferry, post-maintenance test, aircraft acceptance, etc
Good luck with the path, as noted, it's a pretty small community to get into experimental test so look for alternatives that are close would be my suggestion.
TP
