An Aviation Treasure With Opportunities, In Our Backyard!

It is always exciting to discover something unique; something special that is a true treasure. When it is learned that the treasure has a deep history and ties to the past, present, and future of aviation, it takes on an even greater value. And this treasure is here in our own backyard in Minnesota!

The Treasure

There is a company just across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, tucked into a quiet location close to the new Lafayette (Highway 52) Bridge. Its name is “Aero Systems Engineering, Incorporated” (ASE). By general reference, this company is small, with just over 200 employees. The products and services they produce at their two buildings in St. Paul, and their facility in Plymouth, Minnesota, however, have a very significant and positive impact on the aviation industry worldwide! That impact spans the spectrum of General Aviation, Commercial Aviation, and Military Aviation.

Grant Radinzel, ASE’s Vice President of Product Management and Development, shared information about the company, its history, and the amazing products and services that have come from the company’s AeroSystems and FluiDyne technology brands:

“Our wind tunnel design experience dates back to the early 1950s,” said Radinzel. “Since that time, we have grown to become one of the premiere wind tunnel design companies in the world. We continue to lead the evolution of wind tunnel technology and to provide cutting edge test facilities.”

Radinzel continued: ”Our wind tunnel design capabilities include new facilities and also facility upgrades. We specialize in unique conditions: atmospheric boundary layer, climatic, high altitude, icing, aerodynamics, acoustic, and custom designs. We design and supply wind tunnels in all speed regimes.” Those regimes include:

1) Subsonic, closed-circuit, low-speed wind tunnels, atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnels, and aerosol test facilities.
2) Transonic wind tunnels that simulate high Reynolds numbers aerodynamic conditions around the speed of sound (Mach 1).
3) Supersonic (up to Mach 5) blow downwind tunnels with test sections as large as 4 x 4 feet.
4) Hypersonic wind tunnels capable of testing speeds up to Mach 20.

AeroSystems’ primary strengths are in the design, modeling, building and testing of jet engine test systems, while the company’s FluiDyne brand’s primary strengths are wind tunnels and associated aerodynamic testing services.

In 1967, ASE’s engineers recognized the developing need for large engine test systems for the then developing Boeing 747 and DC-10 aircraft. They began designing and building engine test cells not only for the large fan engines, but for all types of aerospace and industrial engines. Since that time, nearly every model of commercial and military jet engine has been tested on ASE equipment and in ASE test cells around the world. Without these test cells designed and built by ASE, the efficiency and reliability of jet engines would likely be significantly degraded from where they are today.

ASE has designed test cells and systems for many of the popular “legacy” engines of the past, including the GE J-79, which had multiple military and commercial applications. ASE is currently working with variations of the CFM-56 and CF-34 turbine engines used with numerous airframes around the world, today. This is taking place while their engineers and designers are finishing the work for new engines like that of the U.S. Air Force F-35 JSF, as well as the giant GE-90-115 and Rolls Royce Trent 800 for the largest commercial airliners.

ASE has also designed and built facilities and equipment to test a variety of General Aviation jet engines. One of their latest examples is the production testing facilities designed and built to test the GE Honda HF120 engine for the new HondaJet HA 420.

A large portion of the work ASE does currently is in support of new aircraft development programs as new engines like the GEnx, PW Geared Turbofan, and RR Trent are entering service to power the latest generation of aircraft like the Boeing 787, the Bombardier C-Series, and the Airbus A-350 that are being built and flight tested for the commercial and military markets.

ASE’s Manager of Marketing Communications, Jamie Jansen said, “Our customers are engine original equipment manufacturers; maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities; worldwide militaries; and research facilities in the aerospace and energy markets.”

Jansen continued: “We have a multi-discipline engineering staff. They consider all facets of engine testing when designing test facilities, from airflow analysis to system integration. We are often brought in as consultants on existing test cells to provide recommendations on ways to improve facility performance or to expand the test cell capabilities. We leverage the capabilities of our aerodynamic test laboratory to prove sub-scale models of test cells and nacelle equipment, and to evaluate different configurations, thus ensuring that the manufacturer’s design delivers optimal engine performance.”

Grant Radinzel added: “Our AeroSystems and FluiDyne brands have developed thermal and acoustic imaging packages for a high-definition video imaging system. This technology displays heat signatures and sound sources/intensities to help diagnose engine anomalies and verify engine performance. Consequently, our shared engineering capabilities and resources are able to provide the customers with state-of-the-art products, services, and efficiencies. We stay on the forefront of engine technology to provide state-of-the-art engine test equipment and facilities for all engine types.”

Susanne Burke, ASE’s Engineering Quality Assurance Specialist commented: “Our manufacturing and assembly processes are fully documented and closely followed to ensure we provide our customers with error-free products. We have a highly skilled and experienced workforce that understands the critical nature of the customer’s test equipment.”

Burke continued: “Product documentation and specifications are incorporated into our contracts to clarify project requirements. We also take quality a step further by inspecting parts onsite at the subcontractor’s (facility) prior to shipment to the site, or at installation.”

Burke noted: “AeroSystems and FluiDyne are both certified to International Quality Standard ISO 9001-2008 and Aerospace Quality Standard AS9100B. Our quality methods are clearly demonstrated by consistently high-customer satisfaction ratings, commendations, and awards for our innovative solutions and projects.”

A History of Support

The decades that ASE’s AeroSystems and FluiDyne brands have been active have made them a collaborative company in supporting the development of air and space technology on numerous projects with national and international impact. FluiDyne has provided support with simulated high-speed aerodynamics to provide capsule reentry data for the NASA Gemini and Apollo programs, and the U.S. Air Force Dyna-Soar program in the early 1960s, and continues to be a technology leader for current-day high-speed test simulations.

Likewise, AeroSystems has provided support to the aircraft engine overhaul market from the introduction of wide body aircraft in the late 1960s and continues developing equipment and facilities for today’s quick turnaround, high-efficiency maintenance environments in support of aircraft engines being serviced around the world.

The Opportunities

ASE, though relatively small in numbers of employees, is always looking for top-quality young engineers who possess a desire to be a part of an organization that has global impact. They look for people who are innovative, willing and excited to meet challenges with creative ideas and new, efficient solutions.

People with degrees in a variety of engineering fields and specialties, who are looking for career opportunities, should take a look at what ASE offers at: http://www.aseholdings.com/Careers.aspx. Aero Systems Engineering, Inc. is an aviation treasure with opportunities right here in our own backyard!