Dryden's fleet of support aircraft provides video, photo and safety chase support for NASA, Department of Defense, Federal Aviation Administration and other NASA approved programs.

The support aircraft are also utilized for pilot proficiency training, which ensures highly qualified, experienced and capable research test pilots.

Each type of aircraft in the fleet provides a unique capability based on its performance characteristics, which meet the support requirements across the envelope of flight operations.

Safety Chase Support

While performing safety chase support, pilots maintain re-broadcast hot-mic and constant radio and visual contact with research test vehicles to ensure total flight safety during specific tests and maneuvers. These chase pilots monitor external flight-critical safety items, clear other aircraft operations, observe flight control operations for the test pilot, and provide additional real-time feedback to the test pilot and control room personnel.

Photo/Video Support

Two-seat support aircraft are utilized for photo and video support. Photo and video technicians in these aircraft transmit live video back to control rooms so that project engineers can monitor the mission as it is flown, ensuring the ability to make critical flight safety decisions if required.

This capability greatly enhances existing ground-based, long-range optic systems providing video and photo recording of research flight test accomplishments.