On a morning in the first decade of the 21st century, a research aircraft and its chase planes wait at the end of the runway. Once everything is ready, they take off and climb into the clear blue sky. The research pilot then begins the first test point as the chase planes and ground controllers keep watch. The carefully choreographed flight plan is carried out at the planned speeds, altitudes, dynamic pressures, angles of attack and sideslip. The successful flight is the result of more than 50 years of advances in flight safety. And "flight safety" means not only survival equipment, but also flight planning, test procedures, simulations and a vast database of aerodynamic knowledge and experience. When the mission is over, the airplanes landed, and post-flight debrief completed, the research pilots, engineers and support personnel leave the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, located on Edwards Air Force Base, California, by driving down Lilly Avenue.
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