The group I work in has 4 people in it. We are currently working with the Joint Strike Fighter Program being conducted by the Department of Defense. The JSF program is looking to produce a fighter-attack aircraft for three of the branches of the military (Air Force, Navy, Marines) as a replacement for current fighters like the F-16, F-18, and AV-8B. Our particular interest at NASA is the Marine aircraft, since it will be able to take off and land vertically, in a similar manner as the AV-8B Harrier does.

The four of us have a variety of activities to do supporting the JSF. We conduct some of the wind tunnel tests here at Ames, using models of the fighter that use high-pressure air to simulated jet thrust. Because of the downblast of the jets, the flowfield around the aircraft becomes very complicated, and causes the aircraft to fly erratically. (One Harrier pilot has said that it is like balancing a broom handle on the palm of your hand, and keeping it from falling over.) Our tests measure the forces acting on the model in the hover and low speed flight regime. With this data, the aircraft can be re-designed to be more stable.

I am also working on the Wright Flyer Test. The Los Angeles Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics built and exact replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer, the first machine to fly carrying a man. They hope to test it in the 80' x 120' wind tunnel at Ames and then to use the data they obtain to build a more stable near replica which can be flown with confidence. The Wright Flyer test is a little different, because it is more of a "fun" activity. There is no pressing need (in the sense of national or commercial interest) for the Wright Flyer data, so we get to step outside of our normal roles a little bit. For this test, I am putting together the data acquisition system that will gather and store information into the computer about how the aircraft flies, and the forces acting on it. I am also looking forward to comparing this data to some small-scale tests that have been done in the past, and also to some of the data the Wright Brothers collected for various wing shapes in their wind tunnel. This test will definitely have an archeological flavor to it, which is very unusual in the aerospace industry.

My Career Path
I became interested in aerospace engineering when I was about 10 or 11 years old. I had always liked airplanes and spacecraft, and had thoughts of being a pilot when I was even younger, but this is the age were I realized I could be involved in actually building one.

Job Likes/Dislikes
I must admitted that I like my job enough that I sometimes have a hard time distinguishing between what is work, and what is goofing off, or just having fun. That can be very important if you plan to stay at any one job for very long.

Because of the severe budget tightening that has gone on at NASA, we have been forced to scale back activities and research a lot. Sometimes a program gets cut so much that it doesn't seem like we're getting good data or results. We also have to do a lot of political fighting to get our programs noticed and funding. That is something I really wish I didn't need to do.

As A Child
I built a lot of model airplanes (still do). I read a lot of books about airplanes and flying. I also read books about World War 2, and how the airplane was further developed during that time. Learning history is almost as important as learning the math and science. It allows you to understand why we build airplanes. (Or why we build anything, for that matter.)

Advice
Of course, you'll need to study math and science to get the background to design and test aircraft, and become an engineer. History is also important, for the reasons stated earlier. It's also important to learn about, and understand human behavior and political thinking. Not only is this important in selling your program to the government, but it is also critical to getting people to work together to build and test your airplane. It's like playing football; some players need to block while another carries the ball. It is a team effort. Playing on a football, baseball or basketball team helps develop that sense of mutual effort. It can also be accomplished by working on a big project such as a play or a community service project.

I would also recommend learning a foreign language. Future efforts in the aerospace industry are probably going to be global efforts. And if you can speak another language fluently, your boss might just send you overseas to conduct a test, because he(she) doesn't know the language.

Early Influences
I was fortunate that everyone around me was encouraging and supportive of my interests. I particularly remember one elderly woman who went to our church, Mildred James. She collected and cherished books. One Sunday after church, she came up to me, and gave me a rather large book, and told me she wanted me to have it. It was called "The Lore of Flight". She told me that she thought I would enjoy having it, and that I might find it useful. I did, and still do. It was so nice of her to think of me, and give me that book.

Future Plans
I'm not sure I can visualize myself doing anything else. I do see more of involvement in program planning and less in testing. Testing is becoming more expensive so more up front work is needed to make it more efficient. For the next few years, I'll still be working the JSF Program. I'm hoping that I'll get to be involved with the flight testing too. I would like to get closer to the actual flying, even if it is to watch it from the ground. I wouldn't mind taking a crack at flight simulation as well.

Archived QuestChats with Craig Hange

• May 24, 2000
  
• December 17, 1999
  
• May 26, 1999
  
• March 25, 1999
  
• February 24, 1999
  
• December 10, 1998
  
• October 6, 1998