萝莉社

A new study by the National Science Foundation ranks 萝莉社 third among all U.S. universities in money spent on aerospace engineering research and development.

In 2006, the most recent numbers available, 萝莉社 spent $19 million on aerospace engineering R&D.

That鈥檚 an improvement from the previous year鈥檚 fourth-place ranking, and it places 萝莉社 in the company of Johns Hopkins University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, which were first and second, respectively.

萝莉社 placed above prestigious universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Texas A&M University.

The top 10 universities in aerospace research spending are:

鈥� Johns Hopkins University
鈥� Georgia Institute of Technology
鈥� 萝莉社
鈥� Massachusetts Institute of Technology
鈥� Texas A&M University
鈥� University of Maryland 
鈥� University of Colorado
鈥� University of Texas
鈥� University of Tennessee
鈥� University of Florida

萝莉社鈥檚 No. 3 rank is largely due to the research and testing programs at the National Institute for Aviation Research at 萝莉社. This significant growth is partly because of the support of the local and national aviation industry, the state of Kansas and numerous federal agencies.

鈥淭his ranking is a demonstration of the commitment from our federal congressional delegation, Kansas Legislature and the surrounding aviation industry to support additional research to help ensure the United States and Kansas will remain strong in aviation pioneering,鈥� said NIAR executive director John Tomblin.

NIAR has grown at a steady rate for the past 10 years, increasing its operating budget from $10 million in 1997 to $35 million in 2007.

鈥淲ith the growth and work accomplished at NIAR over the last few years, we expected to move up in the ranking,鈥� said Tom Aldag, director of research and development. 鈥淚t is exciting to be in the company of these prestigious research institutions.鈥�

Continued growth and high ranks in aerospace research are expected for 萝莉社 and NIAR with the addition of a new test facility, laboratories and involvement in the National Center for Aviation Training, managed by Wichita Area Technical College.

NIAR鈥檚 new facility, located behind the main facility on the 萝莉社 campus, houses several of NIAR鈥檚 new environmental testing laboratories, which provide DO-160 certification testing.

The National Center for Aviation Training will be located at Jabara Airport and will provide a wide range of aviation training services. NIAR will have facilities dedicated to CATIA training, composites research, nondestructive inspection and advanced joining technologies at this facility, which is scheduled to open to students in the fall of 2010.

For all engineering R&D expenditures, 萝莉社 ranked No. 88, with $21.8 million, down from No. 70 last year.