Airborne Aero-Optics Laboratory

We provide a background into aero-optics, which is the effect that turbulent flow over and around an aircraft has on a laser projected or received by an optical system. We also discuss the magnitude of detrimental effects which aero-optics has on optical system performance, and the need to measure these effects in flight. The Airborne Aero-Optics Laboratory (AAOL), fulfills this need by providing an airborne laboratory that can capture wavefronts imposed on a laser beam from a morphable optical turret; the aircraft has a Mach number range up to low transonic speeds. We present the AAOL concept as well as a description of its optical components and sensing capabilities and uses.