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University of Iowa—s Operator Performance Lab outlines flight‑test work, Lockheed and NASA partnerships
Summary
Professor Thomas Chanel told the Board of Regents on June 12, 2025, that the Operator Performance Lab (OPL) has overseen 427 externally funded projects totaling about $38 million and described recent flight testing with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, NASA research commercialization and Air Force test‑pilot collaborations.
Professor Thomas Chanel, director of the Operator Performance Lab (OPL) at the University of Iowa, briefed the Board of Regents on June 12, 2025, summarizing nearly 27 years of OPL work in flight testing, human factors and airborne autonomy.
Chanel described OPL as a university flight‑test organization that operates a mix of manned and unmanned test beds — including surplus jets and helicopters outfitted with modern avionics — to conduct experiments and demonstrations for government and industry customers. He said the OPL has supported 427 projects with approximately $38 million in external funding to date and that the lab has direct partnerships and repeat business with Department of Defense organizations, Lockheed Martin—s Skunk Works, NASA and industry contractors.
Key projects and partnerships Chanel described - Lockheed Martin Skunk Works: OPL tested a collaborative combat aircraft AI kit and prototype display symbology using three OPL fighter jets, with a pilot in the lead aircraft controlling autonomy assets from a touchscreen. Chanel said that John Clark, vice president and general manager at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, told him the work with OPL is "foundational for the future of air combat," and the partnership is continuing with additional contracts. - NASA and commercialization: Chanel recounted a 2005 NASA contract for a synthetic vision system (SVS) that OPL developed and later commercialized through Dynon Avionics; he said more than 12,000 display units incorporating the University of Iowa work have been sold and that the technology has safety implications for degraded‑visibility operations. - Test pilot school collaboration: OPL has been designated as a partner site for graduates of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School who qualify to earn a Ph.D. while on active duty; Chanel said OPL currently hosts several TPS graduates as part of that program.
Chanel also described operational test deployments to military ranges and bases and said OPL—s comparatively small investments in aircraft and infrastructure have produced a high return in terms of research funding and state economic impact. He highlighted specific test work including airborne autonomy experiments, GPS‑denied operations, airborne sensor pods for atmospheric research, and helicopter brownout testing.
No board action was required. Regents asked questions about safety procedures and said they appreciated the presentation. Chanel offered to host regents to observe flight operations where logistically possible.
Quotations in this article come from Professor Chanel—s presentation to the board and are attributed to him as the speaker of record.
