The University of Tennessee Space Institute’s Aviation Systems
program is an asset for Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) and
vital to the aviation industry, AEDC Commander Brig. Gen. David Stringer
said during a recent tour of UTSI’s Flight Research Center at Tullahoma
Airport.
After Rich Ranaudo shared details of his short course to help pilots
deal with hazardous icing of wings, Stringer, himself a licensed pilot,
praised it as an example of helping the industry provide safer
airplanes.
“This is a treasure right here in southern Middle Tennessee,” the
general said, “and it is up to those of us who know of this treasure to
share it.”
Stringer, in fact, requested the tour to share his knowledge of the
Institute’s aviation program with AEDC’s vice commander, Navy Capt.
Christopher Flood and Dr. David Jerome, executive director of AEDC.
Captain Flood is a former student of the UTSI Aviation Systems program.
“This was a great opportunity for our faculty and staff to show the
commander and his staff the capabilities of UTSI’s Aviation Systems
program and how we can contribute to the flight test training needs of
the Air Force,” said Dr. K.C. Reddy, acting dean for academic affairs.
Since it began in 1971, 301 students have received master’s degrees
through the Aviation Systems program, which was headed by Dr. Ralph D.
Kimberlin until his retirement last fall. Sixty-seven are enrolled in
the AS program this semester.
Kimberlin told the visitors of UTSI’s “very good relationship” with
Air Force and Navy test pilot schools. This relationship led to the
off-campus, “distance learning” aspect of the program, which was key to
its success, Kimberlin said, because so many of the students were
traveling. “The Navy kinda drove this,” he said. UTSI also has AS
centers at Patuxent River, Md., and China Lake, Calif.
Dr. Peter Solies, associate professor and acting program chair, told of
various research projects, such as helping the FAA develop new lighting
systems for airports and “special forces develop wind deflection methods
for helicopters to deal with turbulence.” Other research has included
jet wing flight test evaluation and work with the U.S. Forestry Service.
Solies bragged on the students, including nine from the program (and two
others from UTSI) who have been chosen as astronauts, and noted that
students have two flying clubs.
Kimberlin said aviation-related short courses average 25 students.
Ranaudo, assistant research professor, has held two on-campus “icing”
courses, which included use of one of the Institute’s two variable
stability Navions. In November, 87 individuals from three aircraft
manufacturers participated in a third “icing” course in Wichita, Kansas.
While they did not choose to use the Navion, a simulator known as the
“Ice Contamination Effects Flight Training Device,” was provided by NASA
Glenn Research Center.
Stringer, noting that he got his private license early in his career,
said such training is needed to “show us what we need to do to make our
planes safer.”
Following a tour of the hangar and of UTSI’s aircraft, Rodney Allison,
an adjunct professor and manager of the flight facility, took the
general on a brief helicopter flight, and Ranaudo took Jerome into the
air aboard a Navion.
Others participating included Dr. Joel W. Muehlhauser, UT assistant vice
president and UTSI research dean, Dr. George Masters, a former
instructor at Patuxent River and member of the AS thesis committee, Mike
Leigh and Greg Heatherly from the Flight Research Center.
Visiting after a briefing on UTSI’s Aviation Systems program are, from left, Dr. David Jerome, Rich Ranaudo, Brig. Gen. David Stringer, Rodney Allison, Dr. Peter Solies, and Dr. K.C. Reddy.
Dr. David Jerome, accompanied by Rodney Allison, left, and Dr. Ralph Kimberlin, takes a look at UTSI’s Piper Saratoga undergoing maintenance in the hangar.
Navy Captain Christopher Flood, left, and Dr. Ralph Kimberlin discuss UTSI’s Jet Wing airplane.
Brig. Gen. David Stringer, right, unbuckles after flying with ‘copter pilot Rodney Allison.
Brig. Gen. David Stringer stands with pilot Rodney Allison after a spin in UTSI’s helicopter.
Dr. David Jerome peers from inside one of UTSI’s “flying classrooms” during a tour with Rodney Allison, left, and Dr. Ralph Kimberlin.
--UTSI Photos
Writer: Weldon Payne (931) 393-7222
wpayne@utsi.edu
