2023 Tour Site Information

Patuxent River Naval Air Station STEM Tour Site Descriptions
Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Patuxent River, MD
The NAWCAD Strategic Education Office coordinates Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) educational visits to Patuxent River Naval Air Station. The visits
are developed, based on curriculum requirements, to provide real-world examples of STEM classroom lessons.
This document describes the laboratories and facilities which are available for visits. Before each site description is a recommended grade level. All sites are available for college
level visits. One class per visit is the best number of students for each site. Larger groups can be accommodated on a limited basis.
Requests should be should be made no less 6 weeks in advance of the proposed visit date(s). If any of the participants attending are a foreign national, requests must be received a
minimum of 6 weeks in advance.
No open toed shoes, cell phones or cameras are allowed on tours.
Visit requests may be sent to [email protected].

Site Name

Grade
Level

Air Operations Tower and Radar
Room

6 - 12

Air Test and Evaluation Squadron, F35 JSF, Integrated Test Force (ITF)

Air Test and Evaluation Squadron,
HX-21

Air Test and Evaluation Squadron,
UX-24

Tour Site Notes - Limitations,
Perameters, Requirements, Duration
Description
and Capacity
The Air Operations Tower is the tallest building in Southern Maryland This visit is 30 minutes. Occupant
capacity limit is ideally 22 and at
Aerospace Science, and oversees the world’s busiest flight test center. Small groups of
students
(less
than
12)
can
go
to
the
tower
observation
deck.
maximum 30 students/teachers/escorts
Computer Science,
if 2 groups of 15
Computer
students/teachers/escorts rotate
Engineering, and
between the sim room and the tower.
Electrical
Access is by an elevator and steps.
Engineering
STEM Related
Subject

4 - 12

Learn about the 3 variants of the F-35, Joint Strike Fighter aircrafts
Aerospace
and the test and evaluation of the aircrafts at the Integrated Test
Engineering,
Force at NAS Pax River. View the B and C variant.
Aerospace Science,
Mechanical
Engineering

8-12

Mechanical
Engineering,
Aerospace
Engineering,
Aerospace Science

4-12

Aerospace
Engineering,
Aerospace Science,
Mechanical
Engineering

This visit is 1 hour. Occupant capacity
limit is 15 students/teachers.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*

Explore the squadron which paves the future for rotary wing and tilt
This visit is 45 minutes. Occupant
rotor aircraft. Students are guided through the hangar by active duty capacity limit is flexible.
military personnel as they discuss the aircraft under their charge,
ranging from the AH-1Z Viper to the MH-60R Sea Hawk.
Explore the Navy's first and only dedicated Unmanned Aircraft test
Occupant capacity is flexible. This visit
squadron, testing both fixed wing and rotary wing systems. Students is 45 minutes.
are guided throught the hangar by active duty military personnel as
they discuss the aircraft under their charge, ranging from a 5 lb drone
to a several thousand pound MQ-8 FireScout.

Site Name

Grade
Level

Air Test and Evaluation Squadron
One, VX-1

4 - 12

Air Test and Evaluation Squadron,
VX-20

Air Test and Evaluation Squadron,
VX-23

Aircraft Lighting and Transperancy
(ALT) Lab

Atlantic Ranges and Targets (ART)

STEM Related
Subject

Description
VX-1 was commissioned to safely provide assets and services in
Aerospace
support of program teams, the fleet and other customers associated
Engineering,
with the operational test and evaluation of P-8 Poseidon, E-2
Aerospace Science,
Hawkeye, C-2 Greyhound, C-130 Hercules, E-6B Mercury and MQMechanical
4C Triton aircraft.
Engineering

VX-20 was commissioned to safely provide assets and services in
During this visit, we allow at least an
support of program teams, the fleet and other customers associated hour to explore the various aircraft.
with research, development, test and evaluation of P-8 Poseidon, E-2 Occupant capacity limit is flexible.
Hawkeye, C-2 Greyhound, C-130 Hercules, T-6 Texan, and E-6B
Mercury, C-38 Courier, and MQ-4C Triton aircraft.

4 - 12

Aerospace
Engineering,
Aerospace Science,
Mechanical
Engineering

8-12

Flight test engineers and pilots teach students about the FA/18
Aerospace
Hornet, EA-18G, and T-45 Goshawks. These highly trained
Engineering,
engineers and pilots conduct over 3,000 flight operations annually.
Aerospace Science,
This site is limited to 25 students and teachers on a tour.
Mechanical
Engineering

6 - 12

Aerospace Science,
Computer Science,
Computer
Engineering, and
Electrical
Engineering

9 - 12

Aeronautics,
Aerospace
Engineering,
Mechanical
Engineering,
Electrical
Engineering,
Statistics

Tour Site Notes - Limitations,
Perameters, Requirements, Duration
and Capacity
During this visit, we allow at least an
hour to explore the various aircraft.
Occupant capacity limit is flexible.

This visit is 45 minutes. Occupant
capacity limit is 25 students/teachers.

This lab is responsible for component certification and engineering
This is a 20 minute visit. Occupant
investigations, and primary display/lighting tests that measure
capacity limit is 15 student/teachers.
luminance, Night Vision Imaging System radiance, colorimetry,
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*
contrast, daylight readability, spectral radiance and filter transmission.
The Atlantic Test Range (ATR) controls fully-instrumented and
This visit is 2 hours. Occupant capacity
integrated test ranges that provide full-service support for cradle-to- limit is 20 students/teachers.
grave testing. Airspace and surface target areas are used for test and
evaluation of aircraft and for war fighter training missions. The
Telemetry Data Center provides real-time radio-link reception,
translation, processing and display of test data using the Real-time
Telemetry Processing System. This widely used system provides realtime test information from up to nine separate in-flight aircraft to
ground engineering personnel. This is a great tour selection for
aspiring engineers, computer scientists and mathematicians. Atlantic
Targets & Marine Operations maintains and operates maritime
vessles, as well as surface and aerial targets to support a wide range
of RDT&E and training requirements. This facility is located at
Patuxent River Naval Air Station. This visit is suitable for production
engineering and technician students. This tour covers Atlantic Test
Range (ATR) and Atlantic Targets and Marine Operations (ATMO)
along with a department overview.

Site Name

Grade
Level

Aviation Survival Training Center

5 - 12

Cargo Lab

4-12

Cost Department

Digital Night Vision Goggle Lab
(NVG) & Helmet Mounted Displays

Electrical Power Systems and
Environmental Evaluation Facility
(EPSEF)

6-12

6-12

11 - 12

Tour Site Notes - Limitations,
Perameters, Requirements, Duration
Description
and Capacity
Being a pilot/aircrewman is challenging, both physically and mentally. This is a 1 hour visit. Occupant
To ensure aviators are prepared for the rigors of flight, ASTC
capacity limit is 25 students/teachers.
Patuxent River provides and meets the aviation survival and safety
requirements of all Naval Aviation and DoD activities through
Aeronautics,
lectures, simulator devices, and a curriculum that emphasizes handsAerospace
on exposure to survival skills. We offer the best survival training
Engineering
available to the Fleet. The students will learn about the physical
effects of flight and experience some of the challenges aviators face
to include live demonstration of how survival equipment functions on
the pool deck.
This unique facility ensures that cargo aboard aircraft fits securely
This is a 15 - 60 min visit or a half day
during flight, and that cargo outside aircraft meets structural and
event. The half day event must be
Geometry, Physics, airflow requirements. A general tour is available for 15 minutes to an requested no less than three weeks in
hour, in addition to an extended half-day visit. For a half-day visit,
advance. Occupant/capacity limit: Any
Mechanical
students may participate in math and physics focused exercises to
groups bigger than ~25 will be split for
Engineering
determine the correct cargo placement and tie down in an aircraft.
the purposes of touring the aircraft.
Assets on site: CH-53K aircraft, MV-22 aircraft, H-1Y.
STEM Related
Subject

The Cost Department supports the Warfighter and Taxpayer by
delivering timely, quality, forward-looking Cost Estimates, Schedules
and Analyses that enable program success throughout the life cycle
of Naval Aviation programs. This tour consists of an overview of
these capabilities in the Departments Research Room while providing
hands on examples/exercises.
The human systems program at Patuxent River is rich and diverse in
supporting classroom lessons in anatomy, physics, and more. The
Electrical
Engineering, Human Digital Night Vision Lab is responsible for monocular and binoculatr
night vision display evaluations and fully integrated helmet mounted
Biology
display systems evaluations.
Computer Science, This facility is part of the Propulsion and Power Department. This lab
visit shows students the myriad of test equipment that simulates
Computer
nearly every natural or induced environmental condition encountered
Engineering,
by modern aircraft.
Electrical
Engineering,
Mechanical
Engineering
Scheduling,
Industrial
Engineering,
Operations
Research

This is a one hour visit. Occupant
capacity limit is 32 students/teachers.

This is a 20 minute visit. Occupant
capacity limit is 10 students/teachers.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*
This is a 20 minute visit. Occupant
capacity limit is 2 groups of 10
students/teachers.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*

Site Name

Grade
Level

Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)

11 - 12

Environmental Education Center

Environmental Physiology and
Human Performance Lab

Facilities for Antenna and RCS
Measurements (FARM)

Tour Site Notes - Limitations,
Perameters, Requirements, Duration
Description
and Capacity
Many aircraft must be capable of functioning in a nuclear theater. The This is a 40 minute visit. Occupant
nuclear electro-magnetic threat is a fast rise-time, high-amplitude
capacity limit is 15 students/teachers.
Computer
Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP) produced by a high-altitude nuclear
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*
Engineering,
detonation. The coupling of the EMP onto the aircraft produces skin
Computer Science,
currents, which in turn may be coupled onto cable bundles and wires
Electrical
inside the aircraft. These currents can upset or damage the aircraft or
Engineering
weapon systems electronics.
STEM Related
Subject

K-12

Biology, Natural
Science

9-12

Human Biology,
Human Factors
Engineering,
Psychology, Test
and Evaluation

10 - 12

Students and guests will enjoy up close and personal exposure to live This is a 1 hour visit. Occupant
and “stuffed” animals, learn about wildlife hazards to aircraft, outdoor capacity limit is 20 students/teachers
recreation, hazards in nature, and wildlife management.
indoors, or 30 students/teachers
outdoors.
Lab scientists and technicians assess human performance and
This visit is 20 minutes. Occupant
physiology in simulated and real world combat and training
capacity limit is 20 students.
environments at the Environmental Physiology and Human
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*
Performance Lab. The Environmental Chamber in the laboratory can
simulate both extreme hot and cold conditions with varying humidity.
Immersion testing of personnel and equipment can be conducted in a
temperature controlled water tank and simulated altitude can be
investigated using a Reduced Oxygen Breathing Device (ROBD).
These resources allow physical and cognitive tests to be conducted
in extreme environments to evaluate changes in human physiology
and performance on tasks. The lab researches, develops, tests and
evaluates advanced technologies to mitigate these stressors.

The FARM specializes in antenna technology research and
This is a 45 minute visit. Occupant
development. The site has two anechoic chambers used for antenna capacity limit is 2 groups of 15 people
each.
Computer Science, systems evaluations in a free space environment or mounted on
scale models; three outdoor ranges used for evaluation of antennas
Electrical
and avionics systems mounted on full-size airframes. The test sites
Engineering,
are progressing towards computer automated data acquisition. This
Statistics
is an excellent stop for engineering and physics classes.

Site Name

Fleet Readiness Center Aviation
Support Equipment Solomons, MD
(FRCASE)

Fleet Readiness Center Mid Atlantic
(FRCMA)

Fuels and Lubricants Chemistry Lab
and Test Rig Area

Grade
Level

STEM Related
Subject

12

Electrical
Engineering,
Mechanical
Engineering,
Computer Science
Engineering

9-12

9-12

Description
This facility is responsible for the repair and overhaul of naval
aviation ground support equipment. Students will see an extensive
array of equipment and learn about the work performed by engineers,
auto mechanics, machinists, electronics technicians and other
specialists required to support this diverse operation.

FRCMA delivers effective and efficient flight-line readiness through a
globally managed, responsive and integrated sustainment system to
produce quality airframes, engines, components and support
Electrical
equipment, and provide service that meet the Naval Aviation
Engineering,
Enterprise's aircraft ready-for-tasking goals with improved
Mechanical
effectiveness and efficiency. The Fab (Fabrication) Lab increases
Engineering,
aircraft readiness for the fleet by gathering engineers and sailors to
Computer Science
come up with ideas to improve products using equipment such as 3D
Engineering
printers. The JITT/SITT (Junior/Senior Innovation Think Tank) Lab
utilizes creative ideas to innovate.
The Fuels & Lubricants Chemistry Laboratory and Test Rig Area are
the premier test facilities for the testing, evaluation, research, and
development of Navy fuels (aviation turbine, aviation gasoline, liquid
missile fuel, and shipboard propulsion) and lubricants (aviation
turbine & gearbox). These facilities are within the Propulsion and
Power building. The Fuels and Lubricants Chemistry Laboratory
houses 65 specification, fit-for-purpose, and advanced analytical
instruments. These instruments are utilized to provide fleet and
program support and conduct specialized analyses focused on
Chemical
compositional analysis, additive and contamination detection, oil
Engineering, Physics corrosion measurements, and qualification testing (e.g. synthetic
fuels, turbine engine and gearbox lubricants). The Fuels and
Lubricants Test Rig Area houses 15 specialized test rigs, the second
largest fuel storage facility on base, and a fuel blending facility. This
facility conducts specialized test events focused on fuel filtration,
qualification testing (e.g. synthetic fuels, turbine engine and gearbox
lubricants), and R&D work related to fuel quality surveillance
equipment and new lubricants.

Tour Site Notes - Limitations,
Perameters, Requirements, Duration
and Capacity
This is a 45 minute visit.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*

The general facility tour lasts 45
minutes and accomodates 24 students.
Fab Lab occupant capacity limit is 10
and JITT/SIT Lab occupant capacity
limit is 20. Both Labs last 20 minutes.

This visit is 45-60 minutes. Occupant
capacity limit is 20 students/teachers,
but this site can rotate 2 groups of 20
students/teachers.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*

Site Name

Grade
Level

Hearing/Auditory Performance Lab

6 - 12

Horizontal Accelerator Lab

7-12

Human Computer Interaction Lab
(HCIL)

IBST Facilities
(Anechoic Chamber) (Hangar 144
Shielded Hangar)

9-12

9-12

Tour Site Notes - Limitations,
Perameters, Requirements, Duration
Description
and Capacity
The Auditory Performance Laboratory (APL) quantitatively and
This is a 15-20 minute visit. Occupant
Electrical
qualitatively evaluates passive and active hearing protection devices, capacity limit is 15 students/teachers.
Engineering,
hearing enhancement and communication systems. Standardized
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*
Mechanical
Engineering, Human testing for attenuation and speech intelligibility are conducted within
the lab.
Biology
The Horizontal Accelerator is a high-speed test lab which creates
This is a 30 minute visit. Occupant
Mechanical
accelerations up to 50 g to simulate occupant and equipment
capacity limit is 35 students/teachers.
Engineering,
reactions during a crash. High speed digital video and instrumented *Foreign Nationals Prohibited*
Electrical
Anthropomorphic Test Devices (crash test dummies) and are used in NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL OCTOBER
Engineering, Human
the testing of crashworthy seating, restraints and crew gear.
2022
Biology, Statistics
STEM Related
Subject

The Human Computer Interaction Lab provides the facilities and
This visit is 20 minutes. Occupant
expertise to research, engineering, and acquisition program
capacity limit is 20 students/teachers.
customers
to
help
them
quickly
develop
and
assess
product
usability
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*
Human-Machine
Interface, Computer and effectiveness through the use of physical and software
Science, Prototyping prototypes and mockups, and system behavior and mission scenario
simulation. Emphasis of the HCIL services is to provide first-time
and Simulation,
quality to the fleet by supporting human-machine interface and
Electrical
human performance research and engineering projects relative to the
Engineering,
Naval Air Enterprise (or any sea, air, or land program) to improve
Statistics
warfighter performance and integrated assets mission effectiveness.
The Integrated Battlespace Simulation and Test (IBST) facilities
support test and evaluation of aircraft avionics and weapon systems.
Suspending the aircraft in the anechoic chamber with the surrounding
ACETEF labs providing simulated signals, places the aircraft in a
Aerospace Science, realistic, yet simulated flight environment. Engineers can evaluate
Computer Science, the aircraft’s flight performance in a controlled ground test
environment. This facility has two aircraft sized anechoic chambers
Computer
Engineering, and (large, small) and a shielded hangar. Tours are very limited to the
large anechoic chamber, but the small chamber and shielded hangar
Electrical
are typically available. A backup option would be the small anechoic
Engineering
chambers at the FARM that are used for antenna evaluations. Tours
of the ACETEF labs are available (EO/IR, Radar, ECSTIM) upon
request.

This is a 30 minute visit. Occupant
capacity limit is 25 students/teachers.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited if There
is Active Aircraft Testing*

Site Name

Grade
Level

Laser Imaging Detection and
Ranging (LIDAR)

5 - 12

Manned Flight Simulator (MFS)

Materials Labs

MQ-4 Triton Unmanned Aircraft

9-12

6-12

11-12
College

Tour Site Notes - Limitations,
Perameters, Requirements, Duration
Description
and Capacity
The test tank is 26 ft in diameter and 14 ft deep and is used for inA desktop demonstration is also
water testing of optical oceanographic sensors including Laseravailable if schools wish to request an
Computer Science, Radar, laser imaging, and wireless laser communications. In addition engineer in the classroom visit. This is
to state of the art laser sources and receivers, the facility also hosts a a 30 minute visit. Occupant capacity
Electrical
suite of sensors and methods for simulating real ocean conditions in limit is 25 students/teachers.
Engineering,
the lab.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*
STEM Related
Subject

Aerospace
Engineering,
Computer Science
Engineering,
Computer
Engineering,
Electrical
Engineering,
Mechanical
Engineering

The Manned Flight Simulator provides real-time, high fidelity flight
simulation capabilities to support aircraft and system flight test and
ground test activities such as flying qualities and performance
evaluations, avionics integration testing, mission scenario rehearsal,
accident investigations, prototype evaluations, installed systems
testing, and prototype simulator design. If available, students may be
afforded time in a simulator, but this is work-load dependent at the
time of the tour.

Students will see how various materials are composed, analyzed,
and tested to best support aircraft and equipment for the fleet.
Chemistry,
Geometry, Materials
Engineering, Physics
This facility is the hangar for the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Air System
Aerospace
(UAS). This hangar visit allows students to walk through the hangar
engineering, flight
and see the aircraft up close, while learning about the system and the
test engineering,
part it plays in the Navy mission.
unmanned air
systems, electrical
engineering, radar

This visit is 45 minutes. (This tour stop
is only available to high school and
college students. For elementary and
middle school visits, we recommend
using the simulators at the Naval
Aviation Museum.) Occupant capacity
limit is 20 students/teachers.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*
REQUIREMENT:
High School students must view the
MFS Virtual Tour
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT
HaSHkY10E&t=617s) and provide a
short summary of their expectations
and/or questions they hope to get
answered during the in-person tour.
Sumaries must be provided to the tour
coordinator no later than 72 business
hours prior to the tour.

This is a 1 hour visit. Occupant
capacity limit is 35 students/teachers.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*
This is a 30 minute visit. Closed-toed
shoes are required. Tour capacity limit
is 10-12 students/teachers, depending
on available escorts.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*

Site Name

Grade
Level

MQ-25 Systems Test Integration
Lab (STIL)

9-12

MWR Financial Department

Oxygen and Altitude Systems Lab

Patuxent River Naval Air Museum

PMA 272 Weapons Testing

9-12

9-12

4-12

6-12

Tour Site Notes - Limitations,
Perameters, Requirements, Duration
Description
and Capacity
The STIL consists of Government developed software and hardware This visit is 30 minutes. Occupant
Aerospace
systems in support of Unmanned Carrier Aviation, specifically to
capacity limit is 10 students/teachers.
Engineering,
include control stations, simulated air vehicles, and the Navy systems *Foreign Nationals Prohibited*
Computer Science,
that route the communication traffic. The lab is designed for systems
Computer
integration, testing of M&S program requirements, and to support
Engineering,
flight test mission planning and rehearsal.
Electrical
Engineering,
Systems Integration,
Test and Evaluation
STEM Related
Subject

Accounting,
Business Finance

With 22,000 people working at Pax River, there is a tremendous
This is a 45 minute visit. Occupant
network of non-technical businesses on the base that support the
capacity limit is 30 students/teachers.
military and civilian workforce by providing food service, recreation,
fitness and child development programs. The Morale, Welfare and
Recreation Department is a cash business along with receiving some
appropriated funds from Congress. At this stop, we will learn how
their managers apply basic business principles such as return on
investment models, cost of goods sold and other formulary processes
to manage and monitor their operations.

This facility performs development, and test evaluation of aircrew
breathing components and systems, including: Liquid oxygen
Computer
converters, onboard oxygen generation systems, oxygen
Engineering,
concentrators, oxygen monitors, personal-and-aircraft-mounted
Electrical
Engineering, Human oxygen regulators, oxygen pressure reducers and manifold
Biology, Statistics assemblies, oxygen cylinders, oxygen masks, oxygen hose
assemblies.
The Patuxent River Naval Air Museum aims to educate the public
History, Aerospace
about the historic and social significance of the work of the U.S. Navy
Engineering,
that is uniquely carried out in St. Mary's County. Exhibits include a
Aerospace Science,
Test and Evaluation hall with aircraft, and a flight line of 25 different
Mechanical
Navy and Marine Corps aircraft.
Engineering
Computer
Engineering,
Electrical
Engineering,
Mechanical
Engineering

This is a 20 minute visit. Occupant
capacity limit is 15 students/teachers.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*

Reccommended time for this visit is 1
hour 30 minutes. Occupant capacity
limit is 35 students/teachers.

Students will watch a video to learn about weapons testing and be
This visit is 30 minutes. Occupant
able to hold disabled equipment while a speaker talks about what it is capacity limit is 25 students/teachers.
used for.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*

Site Name

Propulsion Systems Evaluation
Facility (PSEF) or Propulsion and
Power

Prototyping Instrumentation
Experimentation (PIE)

Grade
Level

STEM Related
Subject

10 - 12

Chemistry,
Aerospace
Engineering,
Electrical
Engineering,
Mechanical
Engineering

8-12

Tour Site Notes - Limitations,
Perameters, Requirements, Duration
Description
and Capacity
The Propulsion Systems Evaluation Facility (PSEF) tests every
This visit is 45-60 minutes. Occupant
aspect of propulsion systems and contains 55 test and support areas capacity limit is flexible.
including: Fuels and Lubricants Test and Laboratory areas, Rotor
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*
Spin Facility for Compressors and Turbines, Altitude Environmental
Chamber, Helicopter Drive System Facility, Small Engine and
Accessory Test Area, and the Central Computer Facility. The Aircraft
Test and Evaluation Facility (ATEF), commonly called the Hush
House, is a test cell for propulsion testing of Fighter and Attack sized
aircraft. This is a great stop for aspiring chemists and engineers.

Aircraft Prototype Systems Division (APSD) engineers and artisans
This visit is 1 hour 30 minutes.
design, build and install prototype aircraft and field system
Occupant capacity limit is 20
installations, providing customers with a fully-integrated engineering students/teachers.
design, machining, sheet metal/composite fabrication, prototype
modeling and installation capability. The Aircraft Instrumentation
Aerpspace
Division (AID) provides instrumentation systems and performs air
Engineering,
vehicle modifications necessary to support the NAVAIR Test and
Electrical
Evaluation community. The Aircraft Instrumentation Division (AID)
Engineering,
designs, develops, fabricates, installs, calibrates and provides
Computer Science, operational support of flight test aircraft instrumentation and telemetry
Mechanical
systems. AID also provides airborne video data support and performs
Engineering
structural laboratory testing at Patuxent River. This tour covers
Aircraft Prototype Systems Division (APSD) and Aircraft
Instrumentation Division (AID) along with a department overview.

The Salt Fog Laboratory employs 10 accelerated corrosion chambers This is a 20 minute visit. Occupant
which aid in the development of new and environmentally friendly
capacity limit is 15 students/teachers.
coatings for Naval and Marine Corp aircraft.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*

Salt Fog Lab

6-12

Chemistry,
Environmental
Sciences, Materials
Egineering

Site Name

Steam Catapult and Arresting Gear
Facility (TC-7)

Structures Laboratory

Surface Aviation Interoperability Lab
(SAIL)

Targets - Atlantic Ranges and
Targets (ART) and Atlantic Targets
and Marine Operations (ATMO) in
Solomons

Grade
Level

STEM Related
Subject

8-12

Aeronautics,
Electrical
Engineering,
Mechanical
Engineering

9-12

6-12

10 - 12

Description
Learn what it takes to launch an 85,000 pound aircraft off a flight
deck with launch end speeds in excess of 200 mph. This
underground installation accommodates structural tests and
aircraft/catapult compatibility studies with all models of carrier aircraft
in the US Navy. Despite its age (built in 1954), the TC-7 has gone
through continuous upgrades and is representative of the steam
catapults used on today's aircraft carriers. This is a great tour stop for
physics classes and the ultimate F=MA experience.

Ever wonder how strong materials are? The team at the Structures
Chemistry,
lab use sophisticated testing equipment to validate the strength and
Environmental
endurance of aircraft parts. From aircraft wings to small bolts, this lab
Sciences, Materials
ensures structural integrity. This is a great stop for aspiring
Engineering
engineers.
The Surface/Aviation Interoperability Laboratory (SAIL) is a unique,
world–class facility that offers hardware–in–the–loop and
operator–in–the–loop capabilities. Live evaluations and exercises are
conducted in the Atlantic Test Range, virtually through local or
distributed synthetic warfare environments, or in a hybrid of the two
by working with aircraft in–flight, on the deck, and in the NAVAIR
chambers. SAIL has three shipboard combat system suites, the FFG,
Computer
DDG and CVN. These three platforms communicate through voice
Engineering,
Computer Science, and data links with aircraft for test and evaluation of the aircraft
systems, shipboard systems and the interface between them. The
Statistics
facility provides programs with an up front and early exposure to
deployed naval systems and capabilities that foster risk reduction and
cost efficiency for customers.

Atlantic Targets & Marine Operations uses a low-cost, vacuum
thermal-forming process to fabricate a variety of plastic armored
vehicle targets. These simulated targets support a wide range of
RDT&E and training requirements. This facility is located at the
Solomons naval complex and is not aboard the main Patuxent River
Naval Air Station. This visit is suitable for production engineering
students.

Tour Site Notes - Limitations,
Perameters, Requirements, Duration
and Capacity
This is a 45 minute visit. Part of this
tour is outdoors. Occupant capacity
limit is 25 students/teachers.

This visit is 20 minutes. Occupant
capacity limit is flexible.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*
This visit is 20-30 minutes. Occupant
capacity limit is 25 students/teachers.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*

This visit is 30 minutes and will
demonstrate the production of a plastic
target.

Site Name

Grade
Level

Textile Prototype Lab (formerly
Fabrication and Prototype Lab)

9-12

Triton Unmanned Aircraft

United States Naval Test Pilot
School (TPS)

V-22 Osprey Aircraft

Vision Lab

11-12 and
College

6-12

4 - 12

6-12

STEM Related
Subject

Description
The Textile Systems Development & Prototype Lab provides the
space, equipment and facilities for engineers and engineering
Design Engineering, technicians, working with the fabricator, to design and develop new
life support equipment and improve designs of in-service equipment.
Prototype
The lab has been a continuous and significant part of the Human
Development,
Production, Test & Systems Engineering group since the 1960s. The primary mission is
to research, design, and prototype first article aircrew protective
Evaluation,
Geometry, Human devices before simulated operational testing begins. To manufacture
test aircrew protective items to evaluate performance in comparison
Biology, Human
Factors Engineering to specification or similar document, proofing of drawings, and
patterns before being released to NAVICP, and DLA.
This facility is the hangar for the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Air System
Aerospace
(UAS). This hangar visit allows students to walk through the hangar
engineering, flight
and see the aircraft up close, while learning about the system and the
test engineering,
part it plays in the Navy mission.
unmanned air
systems, electrical
engineering, radar
Aerospace,
Aeronautics,
Engineering

Students and educators can’t help but feel awed when entering the
front doors at the US Naval Test Pilot School. Military aviators from
around the world attend this school which has also produced some of
our nation’s astronauts.

Tour Site Notes - Limitations,
Perameters, Requirements, Duration
and Capacity
This is a 20 minute visit. Occupant
capacity limit is 25 students/teachers.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*

This is a 30 minute visit. Closed-toed
shoes are required. Tour capacity limit
is 10-12 students/teachers, depending
on available escorts.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*
This is an hour tour and includes a
briefing on the school along with a
hangar visit. Tour occupant capacity
limit is 25 students/teachers.

This unique aircraft can fly in both vertical and horizontal modes
Aerospace
making it one of the most unique planes at Patuxent River, if not the
Engineering,
entire Navy. A briefing on the aircraft’s unique capabilities followed by
Aerospace Science,
a hangar tour is scheduled.
Mechanical
Engineering

This visit can be 30 minutes or 1 hour
with a full PowerPoint presentation.
Occupant capacity limit is flexible.
*COVID-19 Document Signature
Required*

Student will be exposed to the vision lab which studies and develops
new technologies to improve the vision capability for aviators through
Research and Development programs, studies/investigatons of
envionmental issues that effect eye protection, Test and Evaluate
Program of Record Laser Eye Protection. The Vision Lab has been at
part of Human Systems since the invention of the atomic bomb
providing studies and designs for blast eye protection.

This is a 30 minute visit. Occupant
capacity limit is 15 students/teachers.
*Foreign Nationals Prohibited*
*Guests must wear a mask*

Human Biology,
Human Factors
Engineering

Site Name

Weather Balloon Launch

Webster Outlying Field (WOLF)
Cost Analysis Department

Webster Outlying Field (WOLF)
Rapid Capability Engineering Group
Webster Field St. Inigoes, Maryland

Wind Tunnel

Grade
Level

STEM Related
Subject

4-5

Electrical
Engineering,
Environmental
Science, Statistics

Description
Before many test flights at Patuxent River, a weather balloon is
launched to capture wind speed, direction and other data. For this
activity, students will launch a weather balloon from the shoreline of
the Chesapeake Bay. Data can be downloaded and sent back to the
school for further mathematical inquiry exercises.

6-12

Accounting,
Business Finance

The Z-Code educates & explains the business model of how the
Rapid Capability Engineering & Integration uses business, financial,
& programmatic best practices to ensure product development to the
warfighter.

6 - 12

Aerospace
Enginnering,
Computer
Engineering,
Computer Science,
Electrical
Engineering,
Mechanical
Engineering,
Robotics,
Contracting,
Business Finance

9-12

Tour Site Notes - Limitations,
Perameters, Requirements, Duration
and Capacity
This activity is 45 minutes. Occupant
capacity limit is 35 students/teachers.

This is a 45 minute interactive
presentation where students can be
involved, including a video that shows
an engineering product. Occupant
capacity limit is 35 students/teachers.

Located 12 miles southwest of Patuxent River, Webster Field is
This is a 1.5 hour visit. Occupant
home to NAWC Webster Outlying Field (WOLF), Rapid Capability
capacity limit is flexible.
Engineering & Integration.
There are seven main mission & operational components that make
up NAWC WOLF: Airborne System Integration, Combat Integration
& Identification, Ship & Air Integrated Warfare, Special
Communications, Integrated Command & Control (C2) Intelligence,
Air Traffic Control & Landing Systems. Sensor development and
Integration, also a very robust and dynamic Rapid Acquisition
Contracts/Procurement team. There is also an unmanned air vehicle
operation at Webster Field associated with the UX-24 Command.

The Naval Aerodynamics Test Facility or “wind tunnel” specializes in
Geometry, Physics aerodynamics testing of scaled and full-sized Naval models.

This visit is 20 minutes. Occupant
capacity limit is 20 students/teachers.