During Knutson 's six years at Dryden he maintained the facility at operational readiness for space shuttle landings and replaced Dryden 's aging fleet of F-104 support aircraft with F/A -18 Hornets . He also provided leadership for numerous flight research projects including the X-29 forward-swept-wing technology demonstrator ; the Controlled Impact Demonstration , the F-15 Digital Electronic Engine Control project that integrated propulsion and flight controls , the Pegasus air-launched rocket for placing small payloads into low-Earth orbit ; the CV-990 Landing Systems Research aircraft that tested improved braking systems for the space shuttle ; and the F-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle
Controlled Impact Demonstration
Controlled Impact Demonstration
Martin Knutson