2000s
75 YEARS OF TESTING THE FUTURE
2000
Operational responsibility for the Total In-Flight Simulator (TIFS) transferred from USAF to Calspan under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). TIFS thus became a private venture with no government financial support.
2002
Calspan crash test team celebrated its 2000th crash – a 35 mph full frontal test of a 2002 Dodge Dakota.
2003
Veridian was purchased by General Dynamics, a defense contractor primarily known for building submarines, tanks, and as the owner of the Gulfstream Aircraft Company.
2003
An autonomous aircraft simulation program using the TIFS aircraft was performed to support the autonomous steep approaches of the X-40A unmanned space plane.
2003
Performs test number 25,000 at the HYGE sled test facility.
2004
General Dynamics decided to divest the aeronautical and transportation testing businesses located in western New York. Long-term Calspan employees Lou Knotts, manager of the Aerospace Testing business for General Dynamics, and Tom Pleban, head of contracts for General Dynamics in Buffalo, saw potential. When the offer document for sale of these business units was released, an offer to buy was made by Matrix Development. John Yurtchuk, a financier and the owner of Matrix, was building the new Flight Research hangar at Niagara Falls at that time. The purchase offer was ultimately accepted and the transaction closed on February 18th, 2005.
2004
Learjet In-Flight Simulator is used to develop automatic aerial refueling for the U.S. Air Force.
2005
Leerjet #3, 25-347 was purchased and was modified over the next two years. The simulation system continued to evolve into a fully digital system without the legacy analog components.
2005
Calspan Again! Calspan Corporation is reestablished after the Aerospace and Transportation testing businesses are divested from General Dynamics.
2005
Flight Research Facility: A new hangar and flight research facility is opened at the Niagara Falls airport.
2006
Learjet #4, 25-354 was bought and used for a test support aircraft for several years prior to its modification into a variable stability aircraft.
2008
The Total In-Flight Simulator (TIFS) contracted under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement comes to an end. TIFS was retired from active service, and along with the NT-33A variable stability aircraft, it now resides at the Museum of the Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Greene County, Ohio.
2009
A new Chief Financial Officer, Peter Sauer, was hired to improve the company’s overall performance. An experienced Human Resources Professional, Ruthanne Armstrong, revised many corporate policies and procedures. Over the next several years, a major transformation of the Company took place, replacing an obsolete company culture to make Calspan as successful in its business practices as it has always been in its technical excellence. Employees were evaluated not only for what they do for their technical jobs, but also for how they interact with others and embrace the company’s values of accountability, inclusiveness, and innovation.
