flight test, especially during early development of a new aircraft, many parameters are transmitted to the ground during the flight and monitored by flight test and test support engineers, or stored for subsequent data analysis. This provides for safety monitoring and allows for both real-time and full-simulation analysis of the data being acquired. Execution When the aircraft or launch vehicle is completely assembled and instrumented, many hours of ground testing are conducted. This allows exploring multiple aspects: basic aircraft vehicle operation, flight controls, engine performance, dynamic systems stability evaluation, and provides a first look at structural loads. The vehicle can then proceed with its maiden flight, a major milestone in any aircraft or launch vehicle development program. There are several aspects to a flight test program, among which: Handling qualities, which evaluates the aircraft's controllability and response to pilot inputs throughout the range of flight; Performance testing evaluates aircraft in relation to its projected abilities, such as speed, range, power available, drag, airflow characteristics, and so forth; Aero-elastic/flutter stability, evaluates the dynamic response of the aircraft controls and structure to aerodynamic (i.e. air-induced) loads; Avionics/systems testing verifies all electronic systems (navigation, communications, radars, sensors, etc.) perform as designed; Structural loads measure the stresses on the airframe, dynamic components, and controls to verify structural integrity in all flight regimes. Testing that is specific to military aircraft includes: Weapons delivery, which looks at the pilot's ability to acquire the target using on-board systems and accurately deliver the ordnance on target; An evaluation of the separation of the ordnance as it leaves the aircraft to ensure there are no safety issues; air-to-air refueling; Radar/infrared signature measurement; Aircraft carrier operations. Emergency situations are evaluated as a normal part of all flight test program. Examples are: engine failure during various phases of flight (takeoff, cruise, landing), systems failures, and controls degradation. The overall operations envelope (allowable gross weights, centers-of-gravity, altitude, max/min airspeeds, maneuvers, etc.) is established and verified during flight testing. Aircraft are always demonstrated to be safe beyond the limits allowed for normal operations in the Flight Manual. Because the primary goal of a flight test program is to gather accurate engineering data, often on a design that is not fully proven, piloting a flight test aircraft requires a high degree of training and skill. As such, such programs are typically flown by a specially trained test pilot, the data is gathered by a