NRC has also established a significant capability in studying the performance degradation of aircraft instruments (air data probes) and aircraft engines as a result of exposure to ice-crystal clouds.
This unique capability simulates a range of altitudes (up to 13,700 m or 45,000 ft), temperatures (-40 °C to 35 °C), Mach Numbers (0.15 to 0.8) and representative ice crystal conditions with ice water content of up to 10 g/m3.
- Altitude operability
- Altitude restart testing
- Icing and ice crystal ingestion testing
- Air data probe testing
- Alternative fuel testing
- Reciprocating engine testing
- Optical flow measurement instrumentation
- APU, turboshaft or drone engine testing
Research altitude test facility specifications
| Description | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum flow rate (unrefrigerated/undried air) |
11.2 kg/s (24.6 lb/s) |
| Min. altitude (refrigerated dried air) |
914 m (3,000 ft) |
| Min. altitude (unrefrigerated/undried air) |
91 m (300 ft) |
| Max. altitude | 15,760 m (51,700 ft) |
| Min. temperature at min. flow rate 0.23 kg/s (0.5 lbm/s) |
-43 °C (-45.4 °F) |
| Min. temperature at max. flow rate 4.5 kg/s (10 lbm/s) |
-25 °C (-13 °F) |
| Heated inlet air at a flow rate of up to 1.8 kg/s (4 lbm/s) |
+48 °C (+118 °F) |