- Armstrong Home
- About Armstrong   - Overview
  - Doing Business with Armstrong
  - Employee Alerts
  - History
  - Leadership/Organizations
  - Media Resources
  - People
  - Strategic Plan
  - Virtual Tour
- Programs & Projects   - Overview
  - Advanced Air Mobility
  - Flight Opportunities
  - Quesst
  - Sustainable Flight Demonstrator
  - Aeronautics Projects
  - Science Projects
  - Space Projects
- Capabilities   - Overview
  - Aircraft Flown at Armstrong
  - Dryden Aeronautical Test Range
  - Flight Loads Laboratory
  - Flight Operations
  - Mission Operations
  - Research & Engineering
  - Technology Development
- Multimedia   - All Armstrong Images
  - NASA Image and Video Library
  - Image Galleries A-Z
  - Videos

# Flight Loads Laboratory

NASA’s unique national facility at Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, supports flight research and aircraft structures testing. It continues to thrive after five decades because it provides a mix of valuable capabilities: dynamic thinking to meet challenges and a culture that reinforces getting the work done. From the X-15 and YF-12 of the early years to modern marvels such as the X-57 and X-59 experimental aircraft and dozens of major accomplishments in between, the highly skilled staff is positioned for the future.

### Quick Facts

Single facility capable of conducting mechanical, thermal, and structural dynamics research and testing.

Combined thermal, mechanical, and structural dynamics testing allows for study of the effects of these combined conditions.

Fiber optic sensing technology for real-time distributive strain and temperature sensing.

## Focus Areas

				Flight Loads Laboratory Overview                			

### 

Instrumentation

### 

Mechanical Load Systems

### 

Systems Development Laboratory

### 

Thermal and Cryogenic Systems

Featured Story

# NASA Armstrong Completes F/A-18E Tests

Understanding what stress, or strain, an aircraft can endure is critical to carrying out its intended mission. To better understand…
Read the Story

## Flight Loads Laboratory

22 Images

Go To Gallery

Go To Gallery

### NASA Armstrong Supports F/A-18E Horizontal Tail Testing

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California conducted complex loads calibration tests on a F/A-18E aircraft from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in Patuxent River, Maryland. NAVAIR retired its previous loads test aircraft and NASA Armstrong staff are assisting to prepare the new aircraft for its role to help safely manage in flight maneuvers and determine how the F/A-18E fleet will perform if proposed upgrades are incorporated. This video shows loads calibration testing on the horizontal tails that concluded in October 2021.
				Watch our Flight Loads Laboratory video playlist                			

## 				Explore More About the Flight Loads Laboratory			

## FLL Fact Sheet

Explore the benefits, applications, and characteristics of NASA's unique national laboratory.

## Aerostructures Fact Sheet

Learn about Armstrong's Aero/Structural Loads Group, which performs structural research, analysis, and testing to ensure structural airworthiness.

## 2021 Research, Technology, and Engineering Report

Read more about Flight Loads Laboratory projects, as well as other research happening at Armstrong.

## Featured News

				See All Armstrong News                			

Article3 Min Read
NASA’s Chase Aircraft Gets a Facelift

Article3 Min Read
New Flight Data Portal Ready to Support Quesst Mission

Article4 Min Read
NASA Armstrong Assists with Complex F/A-18E Tests
Article56 Min Read
X-57 Technical Papers

## Discover More Topics About NASA

Armstrong Capabilities & Facilities

Armstrong Aeronautics Projects

Armstrong Science Projects

Armstrong Space Projects