NASA PC-12 Aircraft Makes Move to Support Flight Research Across Agency
NASA has relocated a Pilatus PC-12 aircraft to its NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, expanding the agency’s ability to support flight research missions across multiple programs. The aircraft, tail number 606, arrived on Feb. 11, 2026, and will serve as a flexible research platform capable of deploying to different locations for technology demonstrations and experimental testing. Originally acquired in 2022 by NASA Glenn Research Center, the aircraft will continue supporting Glenn-led projects while enabling broader collaboration across NASA initiatives.
During its previous operations, the PC-12 supported several advanced research efforts, including a communications relay experiment involving the International Space Station. In that test, researchers transmitted a 4K video stream using a portable laser terminal through cloud cover, relaying data through satellites and ground networks before reaching the station. The aircraft has also been used to evaluate surveillance systems designed to manage future urban air mobility traffic, including air taxis operating in dense metropolitan environments.
Alongside the PC-12 relocation, NASA also transferred a T-34 aircraft from Glenn to Armstrong for evaluation as a research and pilot training platform. The aircraft could support rapid flight testing using pod-mounted instruments and provide backup training when the PC-12 is unavailable. The additions join an expanding fleet at Armstrong, including recently added F-15 aircraft, reinforcing the center’s role as NASA’s primary hub for experimental aviation and aeronautics technology development supported by the agency’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate.
