Instructor: William Norton

William Norton
 Biography: William J. Norton is retired from a flight test engineering career that spanned 40 years, including 20 as a US Air Force officer. He has held numerous positions in many organizations on dozens of aerospace programs spanning all aircraft types. He has penned scores of technical papers, 20 books, and a multitude of magazine articles. Bill holds a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering and has taught courses at the college-level. He is a civil pilot with numerous ratings, restored and operated a DHC-1 Chipmunk, and built and flight-tested a Rutan Long-EZ. Bill is married to the lovely and talented Anya Victoria Eriksson.

Classes by this instructor


Aircraft Structures Flight Testing

The course will provide the students with a foundation for understanding structures flight testing to the extent that they can plan and participate in structures flight trials of air vehicles of all kinds. One half will consist of academics, building knowledge of aircraft structures and how they behave. The second half will transition this knowledge into flight test planning and execution techniques used in gathering data to validate predictions and demonstrate flight safety.
September 8-12, 2025, San Diego Marriott Mission Valley

Flight Testing Unmanned Aircraft Systems - Unique Challenges

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are comprised of an unmanned vehicle (UAV), a manned control element(s), and various data and control links. Although unmanned, the vehicle is still an aircraft and must be tested with the same rigor and precision as manned systems. However, being "unmanned" and being part of an integrated system, UAVs demand unique flight test approaches that present corresponding challenges.

Course preview webinar: Taking the Pilot out of the Cockpit is a Big Deal!
October 6-8, 2025, Renaissance Orlando Resort