Stearns N. Heinzen

This year Stearns N. Heinzen, lecturer and doctoral student in mechanical and aerospace engineering at NC State University, and Dr. Charles E. Hall, associate professor of aerospace engineering, spearheaded an initiative among the NC State Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, the United States Air Force Research Laboratory, Tao Systems and Lockheed Martin Company to design, build

	The Versatile Integrated Platform for Experimental Research (VIPER) aircraft was designed, built and tested at NC State University.

and test the Versatile Integrated Platform for Experimental Research (VIPER) aircraft. The vehicle is designed to allow the testing of never-before-flown technologies on an actual aircraft. The unmanned VIPER is 10 feet long and has a wingspan of 8 feet; the airplane has a top flight speed of 265 miles per hour. The VIPER was constructed at NC State and displayed at the Dayton Air Show in July 2003. Dr. Ndaona Chokani, professor of aerospace engineering, is also involved in the project.

According to Heinzen, “One of our group’s philosophies is that this type of testing can significantly advance aerospace engineering by allowing rapid, low-cost and low-risk flight testing for new technologies.” Test flights of the vehicle are planned for the end of this year.

— rudd —

(Photos: submitted by Stearns N. Heinzen)