Derek Abramson, Justin Hall, and Justin Link of NASA’s Dale Reed Subscale Flight Research Laboratory at Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, apply their decades-long enthusiasm for radio-controlled aircraft to advance aerospace innovation. The lab supports research into advanced navigation systems for lunar and Martian landings, and emerging aeronautics concepts.
At the NASA Armstrong subscale flight lab, the team integrates new aerospace technologies with the lab’s fleet of remotely piloted and autonomous aircraft. They also design and build aircraft or experiments to evaluate new concepts. Abramson serves as the laboratory’s chief engineer, Hall is the chief pilot, and Link is a drone pilot. Abramson’s background includes service in the U.S. Navy and the aerospace industry, with expertise in technical oversight, management, and system design. He previously worked on the EA-6B, F-18, B-1, and CV-22 Osprey aircraft, and interned at NASA Armstrong working on remotely piloted aircraft.
Hall is known for creative problem-solving and maintaining flight safety. His interest in aviation began with seeing the SR-71 and the Space Shuttle Challenger. He has built and flown model and remotely piloted aircraft for as long as he can remember. Link specializes in designing and fabricating research vehicles, drawing on hands-on experience to determine what works in flight. The team continues to build radio-control aircraft, research hobby trends, and explore new technologies on weekends, often attending hobby events and trade shows. Abramson’s early interest began with rubber-band powered aircraft and radio-controlled models, leading to a pilot’s license and work as an avionics technician in the Navy.
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