A Forward Look at Gas Turbine Testing Facilities

High thrust-to-weight gas turbine engine development experience has shown that future testing facilities must be more complex and have increased capability. This paper defines the requirements for such facilities and the parameters that generate them. These test facilities include hardware, support services, and performance assurance capability required to meet future needs. Comparisons are made between military specification and currently perceived contractor testing requirements for gas turbine engines, rotating components, and accessories to meet future military procurement expectations, along with the influence of development instrumentation measurement uncertainty.