The University of Iowa Avionics Performance Lab is conducting groundbreaking research.

“We’re a full service flight test organization,” said director of Avionics Operator Performance Lab Dr. Tom Schnell. “If people want to test equipment or test certain aspects of pilot behavior they can come to us.”

The University of Iowa College of Engineering’s OPL includes aircraft such as helicopters, drones and fighter jets.

“The coolest thing I’ve done working here is spending time in the back of the jet flying missions where we’re working in a virtual environment but with real entities that are on the ground,” said project engineer Mathew Cover.

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