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Dryden Flight Research Center Enrichment Activity 2004 NASA SHARP Program California State University, Los Angeles Presented by: Mary-Anne Reported by: Nicole Smith
On June 30, the students of NASA Sharp toured the Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Upon arrival to the facility, the students received temporary badges at the visitor’s center. Once given the badges, the group proceeded to the auditorium for a brief introduction from the tour guide, Mary-Anne.
Mary-Anne presented the students a ten-minute video concerning the history of Dryden and NASA: Dryden Flight and Research Center is a civilian military instillation. The site was named after Dr. Hugh L. Dryden, an aeronautical engineer. Dryden has been a leading force in cutting-edge technology. In the mid-1940s, Dryden began to study flying aircrafts and developed the first experimental research planes. The center’s success continued in the 1950s with increased speed and altitude records from their airplanes. Their research has influenced the design aircrafts; for instance, fly by wire revolutionized the world of aviation. Dryden based aircrafts are sent to locations across the world.
The introduction seminar concluded with a brief overview of rules to abide by during the tour. The group followed Mary-Anne outside to begin the tour of the area. The tour consisted of many informative descriptions of various aircraft displayed around the center. Most of the planes there were originals and not mocks. Some of the planes located in the hangers were undergoing construction. M2-F1, F-15, Golf Stream 3, and X-E are just a few of the planes that were seen during the tour.
After the tour, the California State University, Los Angeles site enjoyed a delicious lunch with the other NASA Sharp students of Dryden. Everyone introduced themselves to one another and compared the differences between the two sites. Through all the discussion, a picture was taken of the NASA Sharp group.
The students concluded the trip by joining the other site to see the 747 aircraft. The students experienced flights through the eyes of the pilot as the sat in the cockpit of the plane. Although it in incomplete, it was very easy to imagine the final outcome. The tour of the Dryden Flight and Research Center was very enlightening. For many students, this tour was the first time they were given access to a governmental facility.
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