{"id":90433,"date":"2021-01-26T20:00:43","date_gmt":"2021-01-27T01:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-462288"},"modified":"2024-01-22T14:41:28","modified_gmt":"2024-01-22T19:41:28","slug":"david-nils-larson","status":"publish","type":"people","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/david-nils-larson\/","title":{"rendered":"David Nils Larson"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-bio-intro maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-bio-intro\">\n\t<div class=\"hds-bio-intro-container grid-row grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-4 desktop:grid-col-3\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-bio-thumbnail width-10 tablet:width-card desktop:width-card-lg\">\n\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1919\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0198-37\/AFRC2023-0198-37~large.jpg?w=1919&h=1280&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 51% 48%; object-position: 51% 48%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0198-37\/AFRC2023-0198-37~large.jpg?w=1919&h=1280&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1919w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0198-37\/AFRC2023-0198-37~large.jpg?w=300&h=200&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0198-37\/AFRC2023-0198-37~large.jpg?w=768&h=512&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0198-37\/AFRC2023-0198-37~large.jpg?w=1024&h=683&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0198-37\/AFRC2023-0198-37~large.jpg?w=1536&h=1025&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0198-37\/AFRC2023-0198-37~large.jpg?w=400&h=267&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0198-37\/AFRC2023-0198-37~large.jpg?w=600&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0198-37\/AFRC2023-0198-37~large.jpg?w=900&h=600&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0198-37\/AFRC2023-0198-37~large.jpg?w=1200&h=800&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1919px) 100vw, 1919px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-7 desktop:grid-col-9 grid-row margin-0 padding-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1 desktop:margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"display-60 display-block width-full\">David Nils Larson<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-lg padding-0 margin-0 color-carbon-60\">NASA Pilot<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p>David Nils Larson is a research test pilot at NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. He is NASA\u2019s lead pilot for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/X59\">X-59<\/a> aircraft, and is assigned to Armstrong\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers\/armstrong\/news\/FactSheets\/FS-006-DFRC.html\">F\/A-18<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers\/armstrong\/news\/FactSheets\/FS-055-DFRC.html\">F-15<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers\/armstrong\/news\/FactSheets\/FS-092-DFRC.html\">T-34 research and mission support aircraft<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers\/armstrong\/news\/FactSheets\/FS-050-DFRC.html\">DC-8 airborne science aircraft<\/a>. Larson also serves as senior advisor for NASA aeronautical flight research. In this role, he is a strategic advisor to program directors for agency mission directorates concerning aeronautics flight research planning, execution, aircraft airworthiness, and risk management for future flight research projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The X-59 experimental aircraft will demonstrate the ability to fly faster than the speed of sound while reducing the loudness and intensity of the sonic boom that typically occurs at such speeds. In support of this effort, Larson has flown numerous supersonic research flights for NASA\u2019s Commercial Supersonic Technology project. This included supersonic flights in California, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers\/armstrong\/features\/sonic_boom_tests_set_for_ksc.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Florida<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/QSF18\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Texas<\/a>, preparing NASA for community overflights of the X-59.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Prior to joining NASA in 2007, Larson was on active duty with the U.S. Air Force. He has accumulated more than 7,000 hours of military and civilian flight experience in more than 100 fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During his time in the Air Force, Larson served as a first assignment instructor pilot in T-37 trainers; an operational U-2 pilot; a test pilot flying the F-15, T-38C, and RU-38; a test pilot instructor on exchange at the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School teaching systems and fixed-wing flight test in the F\/A-18, T-2, U-6A, and X-26; and as commander of the U-2 flight test detachment and depot in Palmdale, California. He finished his Air Force career as the deputy group commander for the 412th Operations Group at Edwards Air Force Base. He retired from active duty in 2007 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Larson previously served as NASA Armstrong\u2019s flight crew branch chief, also known as chief pilot, and was responsible for supervision of the pilots, navigators, UAV operators, and flight engineers who flew a variety of specialized aeronautical research, operational science, and mission support aircraft. Prior to that he served as deputy chief of the flight crew. He has worked on numerous supersonic projects and the Mars Science Laboratory <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers\/armstrong\/news\/FactSheets\/FS-104-DFRC.html\">landing radar tests in the F\/A-18<\/a>, the F-16 Automatic Collision Avoidance Technology program, various high speed propulsion projects in the F-15, Intelligent Flight Control projects on the F\/A-18 and NF-15B, and numerous airborne science missions flown on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers\/armstrong\/news\/FactSheets\/FS-046-DFRC.html\">ER-2<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers\/armstrong\/news\/FactSheets\/FS-050-DFRC.html\">DC-8 airborne science aircraft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Larson earned a Bachelor of Science in astronautical engineering in 1986 from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is a fellow and former president of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and a graduate of U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School Class 95A, \u201cThe Spin Doctors.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>David Nils Larson is a research test pilot at NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. He is NASA\u2019s lead pilot for the X-59 aircraft, and is assigned to Armstrong\u2019s F\/A-18, F-15, T-34 research and mission support aircraft, and DC-8 airborne science aircraft. Larson also serves as senior advisor for NASA aeronautical flight research. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":597663,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_people_facebook_url":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_people_twitter_url":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_people_instagram_url":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_people_linkedin_url":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_people_title":"NASA Pilot"},"categories":[2855,2668],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[10206],"coauthors":[8602],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"David Nils Larson","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/david-nils-larson\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/david-nils-larson\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0198-37\/AFRC2023-0198-37~large.jpg?w=1919&h=1280&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0198-37\/AFRC2023-0198-37~large.jpg?w=1919&h=1280&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint"},"articleSection":"NASA Centers & Facilities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Dede Dinius"}],"creator":["Dede Dinius"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["People of NASA","Armstrong Flight Research Center"],"dateCreated":"2021-01-27T01:00:43Z","datePublished":"2021-01-27T01:00:43Z","dateModified":"2024-01-22T19:41:28Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"David Nils Larson\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/david-nils-larson\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"index\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0198-37\/AFRC2023-0198-37~large.jpg?w=1919&h=1280&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2021-01-27T01:00:43Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"People of NASA,Armstrong Flight Research Center\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Dede Dinius\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":3,"featured_image":{"id":597663,"file":"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0198-37\/AFRC2023-0198-37~large.jpg","title":"NASA Test Pilot Nils Larson Poses with X-59 Research Aircraft","alt":"","caption":"NASA test pilot Nils Larson poses with the newly-painted X-59 as it sits on the ramp at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California. The X-59 is the centerpiece of NASA\u2019s Quesst mission, which seeks to solve one of the major barriers to supersonic flight over land, currently banned in the United States, by making sonic booms quieter."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/people\/90433"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/people"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/people"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/54"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/people\/90433\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":597664,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/people\/90433\/revisions\/597664"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/597663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=90433"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=90433"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=90433"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=90433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}