Aviation has been in the blood of the Wichita community for decades, and since 1985, Wichita State University's National Institute for Aviation Research has been its pulse. Since that time, we have made a name for ourselves as one of the few state-of-the art aviation research centers in the United States recognized for our contributions to aviation safety and performance. We are proud to hold this unique status and to be part of the continuing research, technology and education available today.
NIAR is also proud to hold three FAA Centers of Excellence designations. Together, they promote the safety, research, manufacturing and design elements of today's aviation industry. These include the FAA Center of Excellence for General Aviation Research (CGAR), the Airworthiness Assurance Center of Excellence (AACE) and most recently a Center of Excellence in Composites and Advanced Materials (CECAM). In 2001, we were awarded the prestigious FAA Excellence in Aviation Institutional Award for our ability to partner with industry, academia and government to advance aviation research. We are also recognized as a Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation Center of Excellence.
Ok , let's move on to how I got here. I started out in the machine shop ensuring all the composite panels are in the correct specifications needed by the client company before being sent off to the testing department ( structures / fatigue lab) . Then I got transfered over to structures lab soon after to get some training in testing procedures used by FAA.
In the entrance of NIAR , this is what you will see. A chandelier of brass "paper airplanes" hung on the ceiling.
Here is where I initially started out , in the composite lab department where we make and lay up stuff like below
We have our very own autoclave ( another fancy term for giant oven just that we can control almost every variable for this chamber)
Then our own conditioning chamber to simulate an aircraft airborne in different environment to see how well the composite panel hold up to the forces of nature.
After 2 years of being in the composite labs , it's time to move on to learn the new ropes of ASTM static testing. I bring you structures lab , this is the entrance I see every morning .
and well within this high security area you'll find yourself loss in a jungle of giant hydraulic machineries used for testing.Here is one of the scale down model of a cessna citation model aircraft used in our wind tunnel testing facility.
And lastly on each level of the building you will find pictures of airplanes that NIAR research was used in. You can find fighter jets to cargo planes and passenger planes along the hallway.
and in case you don't know , even this plane below is part of NIAR contribution.
Yup , all those airplanes you sat on during your holidays , trips and business travel. I took part to make some part of it ( freaks you out doesn't it , he he he he).
