Short Take-off and Vertical Landing Facility (STOVL)

The Short Take-off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) facility is one of FCAAP's two jet facilities. STOVL provides a means to study both free jet and impinging jet flow physics through the use of several optical diagnostic techniques including Schlieren photography, Particle Image Velocimetry, Background Oriented Schlieren and Pressure Sensitive Paints. Various configurations can be tested with a Mach number range of 0.5-2.2 with geometries ranging from conical to elliptic, rectangular and chevron nozzles. In addition, with the use of a 192 kW inline electric heater, the stagnation temperature can be raised to nearly 1000°F to study the effects of temperature. With the addition of a secondary, independently controlled pressure supply line, the facility's capabilities expand to include twin nozzle configurations, co-flow and the interaction of cold and hot streams. The primary focus of the facility is to improve current knowledge in an effort to effectively and intelligently design and test control devices aimed at reducing high noise levels associated by free and impinging high speed jets.

Specifications