testbed aircraft
{{Short description|Aircraft used for research or testing purposes}}
File:DB-3 testbed aeroplane of TsAGI 1940.jpg testbed aeroplane of TsAGI for laminar wing profiles research (1940)]]
File:Avro Sapphire Lancastrian VM733 Coventry 06.54.jpg fitted to an Avro 691 Lancastrian testbed (outer position), June 1954]]
A testbed aircraft is an aeroplane, helicopter or other kind of aircraft intended for flight research or testing the aircraft concepts or on-board equipment. These could be specially designed or modified from serial production aircraft.{{cite book |date=1994 |editor-last=Свищёв |editor-first=Георгий |title=Авиация : Энциклопедия |trans-title=Aviation : Encyclopedia |url=https://search.rsl.ru/ru/search#q=%D0%90%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F%20%3A%20%D0%AD%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%8F%20%2F%20%D0%93%D0%BB.%20%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4.%20%D0%93.%20%D0%9F.%20%D0%A1%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%89%D0%B5%D0%B2.%20-%20%D0%9C.%20%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%88%D0%B0%D1%8F%20%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81.%20%D1%8D%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BB |language=RU |location=Москва |publisher=Большая российская энциклопедия : TsAGI |pages=735 }}{{cite book |date=2017 |editor-last=Hamel |editor-first=Peter G. |title=In-flight simulators and fly-by-wire/light demonstrators : a historical account of international aeronautical research |url=http://searchfirst.library.unsw.edu.au/primo_library/libweb/action/dlDisplay.do?vid=UNSWS&docId=UNSW_ALMA51215234610001731&fromSitemap=1&afterPDS=true |location=Cham, Switzerland |publisher=Springer |pages=345 |isbn=9783319539973}}
Use of testbed aircraft
File:McDonnell Douglas MD-81(UHB) McDonnell Douglas demonstrator, Farnborough UK - England, September 1988 (5589809360).jpg testbed with experimental GE36 propfan engine]]
File:Yak-40 based testbed aircraft with a hybrid transmission on MAKS-2021 airshow.jpg-based testbed aircraft with a hybrid powerplant]]
For example, in development of new aircraft engines, these are fitted to a testbed aircraft for flight testing, before certification. New instruments wiring and equipment, a fuel system and piping, structural alterations to the wings, and other adjustments are needed for this adaptation.{{cite web|url=http://aviationweek.com/blog/ges-new-747-flying-testbed-colors|title=GE's new 747 flying testbed colors|publisher=Aviation Week|date= 7 June 2013|accessdate=26 April 2016|author=Guy Norris|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160602101951/http://aviationweek.com/blog/ges-new-747-flying-testbed-colors|archive-date= 2 June 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_photos_testbed.htm|title=Lancaster Test Bed Images|publisher=Avro Lancaster|accessdate=26 April 2016}}
The Folland Fo.108 (nicknamed the "Folland Frightful") was a dedicated engine testbed aircraft in service from 1940. The aircraft had a mid-fuselage cabin for test instrumentation and observers. Twelve were built and provided to British aero-engine companies. A large number of aircraft-testbeds have been produced and tested since 1941 in the USSR and Russia by the Gromov Flight Research Institute.{{cite magazine |last=Жихарев |first=Вячеслав |title=Опытно-конструкторское производство ЛИИ имени М.М. Громова |trans-title=Gromov Flight Research Institute Experimental Production Division |magazine=Вестник авиации и космонавтики |language=RU |location=Москва |publisher=Редакция журнала |publication-date=6 March 2001 |pages=72–83 }}
AlliedSignal,{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/alliedsignal-powers-up-as900-turbofan-55058/|title=AlliedSignal powers up AS900 turbofan|publisher=Flight Global|date= 18 August 1999|accessdate= 2 August 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180130091642/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/alliedsignal-powers-up-as900-turbofan-55058/|archive-date= 30 January 2018}} Honeywell Aerospace,{{cite web|url=https://www.thenational.ae/business/boeing-757-test-bed-plane-showcases-honeywell-r-d-capabilities-in-dubai-1.139514|title= Boeing 757 test-bed plane showcases Honeywell R&D capabilities in Dubai|publisher= The National Business|date= 6 August 2016|accessdate= 2 August 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180802224015/https://www.thenational.ae/business/boeing-757-test-bed-plane-showcases-honeywell-r-d-capabilities-in-dubai-1.139514|archive-date= 2 August 2018}} Pratt & Whitney,{{cite web|url= http://aviationweek.com/blog/inside-pratts-new-flying-testbed|title= Inside Pratt's new flying testbed|publisher= Aviation Week|date= 8 May 2012|accessdate= 2 August 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180116144715/http://aviationweek.com/blog/inside-pratts-new-flying-testbed|archive-date= 16 January 2018}} and other aerospace companies used Boeing jetliners as flying testbed aircraft.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-15|title=Tempest Fighter To Wield Flying 'Excalibur' Lab For Digital Dominance|url=https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2021/09/tempest-fighter-to-wield-flying-excalibur-lab-for-digital-dominance/|access-date=2021-09-18|website=Breaking Defense|language=en-US}}