An experimental aircraft is an aircraft intended for testing new aerospace technologies and design concepts.

A LTV XC-142 experimental V/STOL aircraft.

The term research aircraft or testbed aircraft, by contrast, generally denotes aircraft modified to perform scientific studies, such as weather research or geophysical surveying, similar to a research vessel.[citation needed]

United States edit

The term "experimental aircraft" also has specific legal meaning in Australia, the United States and some other countries; usually used to refer to aircraft flown with an experimental certificate.[1] In the United States, this also includes most homebuilt aircraft, many of which are based on conventional designs and hence are experimental only in name because of certain restrictions in operation.[2]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ 14CFR 21.175 Archived 2018-09-12 at the Wayback Machine, US Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved 2018-01-12
  2. ^ 14CFR 21.191 Archived 2021-06-10 at the Wayback Machine, US Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved 2018-01-12