1.2 T-7A Distributed Test: Remote Testing of Prototype Aircraft

Abstract

The T-7A is the new jet trainer aircraft for the United States Air Force. The prototype T-7A test aircraft were flown based out of a contractor test facility 2,800 km away from the Air Force test team. The combined government and contractor test team established distributed test operations that enabled engineers to monitor real-time flight test missions with telemetered data and communication in control rooms at both the contractor location and the remote government location. This paper describes the setup and capabilities of the network connection; the events used to establish distributed test operations; the concept of operations across multiple organizations; technical, organizational, and contractual challenges encountered and lessons learned; and planned future growth of this capability.