The subject of aerodynamic bandaids takes a whimsical twist with a look into the mad scientist part of flight test. One of the less familiar roles of the test pilot is that research conducted on highly modified aircraft know as flying test beds. Here is a sample of these flying Frankensteins.

The M-55, a Russian Flight Test research aircraft. Click on the picture for a link to more information about that unique aircraft.

This Gulfstream “G2″ serves as a testbed for Northrop Grumman and the US Navy.

This is the F-35 avionics flying test bed–Cooperative Avionics Test Bed (CATB).

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Airplanes by Design features photographs of aircraft from a test pilot perspective, highlighting aeronautical engineering characteristics and flight test facts. To see all of the these pictures (and many more of this aircraft and it’s unique design characteristics), click here. You will always be able to access any of these pictures by selecting the Flickr icon in the top menu bar.

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