PROFESSOR
Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Colin Britcher

757-683-4916

241F KAUFMAN HALL
NORFOLK, 23529

Dr. Britcher has enjoyed a long career at ODU and a continuous partnership with NASA Langley on a range of projects in experimental aerodynamics and/or magnetic suspension systems. Recent work focuses on development of wind tunnel test techniques for evaluation of the dynamic stability characteristics of multi-rotor drones and planetary entry capsules, using a motion platform and magnetic suspension respectively. He is the lead author of a recent textbook “Wind Tunnel Test Techniques – Design and Use of Low- and High-Speed Wind Tunnels”. He is currently serving as Deputy Director for Education, AIAA Region I, is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and an Associate Fellow of AIAA.

Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Southampton University, (1983)

B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, University of Southampton, (1978)

Contracts, Grants and Sponsored Research

Britcher, C. P. "Acoustic Characterization of NASA Wind Tunnels" $160,000. Private. -
Britcher, C. P. "SATS Technology Working Group" $3,200. Private. -
Britcher, C. P. "Virginia Institute for Performance Engineering and Research" $1,042,000. State. -
Britcher, C. P. "Wind Tunnel Relocation" $7,500. Private. -
Britcher, C. P. "Director of Graduate Programs, National Institute of Aerospace" $330,153. Other. August 16, 2017 - August 15, 2020
Britcher, C. P. "Failure Analysis Bonded Joints and Prog. Failure Analysis of Composite Structures" $5,000. Other. August 15, 2017 - August 14, 2019
Britcher, C. P. "Virginia Space Grant Consortium – Altamirano" $8,500. 2017 - 2018
Britcher, C. P. "Magnetic Wind Tunnel for Extracting Pitch Damping Data" $63,975. Other. September 26, 2017 - September 25, 2018
Britcher, C. P. "NIA Wind Tunnel Blunt Body Entry Vehicles" $64,175. Other. October 1, 2015 - December 31, 2017
Britcher, C. P. "Subsonic Magnetic Suspension Wind Tunnel for Use Extracting Pitch Damping Data of Blunt Body Entry Vehicles" $128,400. October 2015 - October 2017
Britcher, C. P. "Development of a Digital Bridge Thermal Anemometer" $113,713. August 2015 - August 2017
Britcher, C. P. "NIA Director of Graduate Programs" $355,628. August 2014 - July 2017
Britcher, C. P. "Low Noise Propellers for GL-10" $14,810. October 2015 - June 2016
Britcher, C. P. "Feasibility of a Magnetic Suspension System for EDL Testing" $16,000. June 2015 - October 2015
Britcher, C. P. "Thrust Prediction for a Rotor Operating in a Ship Airwake" $88,200. August 2013 - August 2014
Britcher, C. P. "RASC-AL Robo-Ops" $9,000. December 2012 - May 2013
Talley, W. K., Alberts, T. E., Britcher, C. P., Bawab, S., Karande, K., Gopinath, M. and Creedon, J. "Demonstrate Maglev M3 on ODU Guideway" $387,010. 2008 - 2009
Britcher, C. P. "High Reynolds Number Test Facility" $100,000. - 2005
Britcher, C. P. "Virginia Space Grant Consortium – Yuksek" $5,000. 2004 - 2005
Newman, B. A. and Britcher, C. P. "Energy State Management in a SATS Environment - Phase 3" $40,000. May 2005 - October 2005
Britcher, C. P. "Aerodynamic Calibration of the Behr America Climatic Wind Tunnel" $24,000. - 2004
Britcher, C. P. "Small Aircraft Transportation System" $50,000. - 2004
Britcher, C. P. "Virginia Space Grant Consortium - Breitenbach" $5,000. 2003 - 2004
Britcher, C. P. "Center for Experimental Aeronautics" $942,000. 2000 - 2004
Newman, B. A. and Britcher, C. P. "Energy State Management in a SATS Environment - Phase 2" $108,000. October 2003 - November 2004
Newman, B. A. and Britcher, C. P. "Energy State Management in a SATS Environment - Phase 1" $36,260. July 2003 - September 2003
"Magnetic Suspension Technology. 1999 - 2001
Gray, W. S., Britcher, C. P. and Gonzalez, O. "Supplemental Funds for Characterization, Control and Commissioning of the Magnetic Suspension and Balance System for the Princeton/ONR High Reynolds Number Testing Facility" $40,000. Other. 1999 - 2000
Gray, W. S., Britcher, C. P. and Gonzalez, O. "Characterization, Control and Commissioning of the Magnetic Suspension and Balance System for the Princeton/ONR High Reynolds Number Testing Facility" $100,000. Other. 1998 - 2000
Britcher, C. P. "Graduate Student Researchers Program - Bloodgood" $77,000. 1997 - 2000
Britcher, C. P. "Feasibility Study of Technology Development Center" $6,000. 1998 - 1999
Britcher, C. P. "Virginia Space Grant Consortium - Cain" $5,000. 1998 - 1999
Britcher, C. P. "Virginia Space Grant Consortium - Bloodgood" $10,000. 1997 - 1999
Britcher, C. P. "Feasibility Study of Technology Development Center" $25,000. 1997 - 1998
Britcher, C. P. "Wind tunnel measurements - hot films" $5,200. - 1997
Britcher, C. P. "Aerodynamics of Cooling Systems for High Altitude Atmospheric Research Aircraft, Amtech JSRA 8.6-7.0" $377,225. 1996 - 1997
Britcher, C. P. "Instructional course related to calibration of the NASA Transonic Dynamics Tunnel" $8,752. 1996 - 1997
Britcher, C. P. "Lecture series" $9,172. - 1995
Britcher, C. P. "Development of Low Drag Heat Exchangers for High Altitude Atmospheric Science Aircraft" $25,050. 1994 - 1995
Britcher, C. P. "Large Angle Magnetic Suspension Test Fixture" $416,813. 1990 - 1995
Britcher, C. P. "Demonstration Cavity-Store Separation and Other Aerodynamic Tests" $5,796. 1991 - 1992
Britcher, C. P. "Wind Tunnel Magnetic Suspension and Balance Systems " $14,307. 1990 - 1991
Britcher, C. P. "Dynamic Stability Testing with Magnetic Suspension Systems" $15,000. 1988 - 1989
Britcher, C. P. "Wind Tunnel Magnetic Suspension and Balance Systems " $154,496. 1987 - 1989
Britcher, C. P. "Sidewall Boundary Layer Effects in Two-Dimensional Airfoil Testing " $45,093. - 1986
Britcher, C. P. "Wind Tunnel Magnetic Suspension and Balance Systems " $38,191. - 1986

Expertise

Aerospace Engineering
Experimental methods,aerodynamics,wind tunnels,magnetic suspension

Research Interests

Wind tunnel design and test techniques; experimental aerodynamics; magnetic suspension and levitation.

Articles

Britcher, C. P. and Schoenenberger, M. (2015). Feasibility of Dynamic Stability Measurements of Planetary Entry Capsules Using MSBS.
Britcher, C. P., Wells, J. M., Renaud, B. and Buvat, T. (2012). Aerodynamics of urban maglev vehicles. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit 226 (6) , pp. 561–567.
Mokthar, W. and Britcher, C. P. (2009). Boundary Interference of High Blockage Models in Open-Jet Test Sections. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars – Mechanical Systems , pp. pp.883-895.
Landman, D., Simpson, J., Mariani, R., Ortiz, F. and Britcher, C. P. (2007). Hybrid Design for Aircraft Wind-Tunnel Testing Using Response Surface Methodologies.. AIAA Journal of Aircraft vol.44 (no.4) , pp. pp.1214-1221.
Mokhtar, W. A. and Britcher, C. P. (2006). Wind-tunnel boundary corrections for a full-scale 1903 Wright Flyer replica. Journal of aircraft 43 (1) , pp. 64–71.
Newman, B. A., Britcher, C. P., Kassaye, Y., Roy, J., Krizansky, M. and Acheson, M. (2006). Trajectory Management Concepts for Future Small Aircraft Transportation Systems. AIAA Journal of Aircraft Vol. 43 (No. 6).
Mokhtar, W. and Britcher, C. P. (2006). Wind Tunnel Boundary Corrections for a 1903 Wright Flyer Replica. AIAA Journal of Aircraft 43 (1) , pp. pp. 64-71.
Britcher, C. P., Mariani, R., Craig, P., Gillespie, J., Monsi, M., Luna, D. and Sykes, M. (2004). Analysis of the Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel and Design of an Educational Derivative. AIAA Paper 1141 , pp. 1–9.
Kochersberger, K., Britcher, C. P., Crabill, N., Dominguez, K., Player, J., Hyde, K. and Warrenton, V. (2004). Flying Qualities of the Wright 1903 Flyer: From Simulation to Flight Test. AIAA Paper 105 , pp. 1–10.
Elsaadawy, E. A. and Britcher, C. P. (2004). Physical model of a propeller slipstream interacting with a boundary layer at low Reynolds number. AIAA paper 6590.
Britcher, C. P., Landman, D., Ash, R. L., Kochersberger, K. and Hyde, K. (2004). Predicted Flight Performance of the Wright ‘Flyer’Based on Full-Scale Tunnel Data. AIAA Paper 104 , pp. 1–10.
Zuckerwar, A. J., Ash, R. L., Britcher, C. P. and Landman, D. (2003). An Evaluation of the Wright 1901 Glider using Full-Scale Wind Tunnel Data. Journal of Aircraft 40 (3) , pp. 417-424.
Elsaadawy, E. A. and Britcher, C. P. (2003). Effect of propeller slipstream on heat-exchanger installations at low Reynolds number. Journal of aircraft 40 (4) , pp. 751–758.
Landman, D. and Britcher, C. P. (2001). Experimental investigation of multielement airfoil lift hysteresis due to flap rigging. Journal of Aircraft 38 (4) , pp. 703–708.
Landman, D. and Britcher, C. P. (2000). Experimental geometry optimization techniques for multi-element airfoils. Journal of aircraft 37 (4) , pp. 707–713.
Bloodgood, Jr, V. and Britcher, C. P. (1998). 37th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit January 11-14, 1999/Reno, NV.
Britcher, C. P. and Bloodgood, D. V. (1998). Eddy current influences on the dynamic behaviour of magnetic suspension systems.
Britcher, C. P. (1998). Wind Tunnel Magnetic Suspension and Balance Systems With Transversely Magnetized Model Cores.
Britcher, C. P. and Landman, D. (1997). Jurassic tunnel- The life, death and resurrection of the Langley Full-Scale Tunnel. Wind tunnels and wind tunnel test techniques , pp. 8.
Britcher, C. P. and Groom, N. J. (1996). Computational Analysis of Static and Dynamic Behaviour of Magnetic Suspensions and Magnetic Bearings.
Neff, D. J. and Britcher, C. P. (1996). Design and Implementation of a Digital Controller for a Vibration Isolation and Vernier Pointing System. 3rd International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension Technology.
Landman, D. and Britcher, C. P. (1996). Experimental Optimization Methods for Multi-Element Airfoils (Final Report, period ended 31 Aug. 1996). AIAA 19th Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Conference.
Britcher, C. P. and Alcorn, C. W. (1994). Boundary-layer influences on the subsonic near-wake of bluff bodies. Journal of aircraft 31 (2) , pp. 443–444.
Britcher, C. P. and Foster, L. E. (1994). Some further developments in the dynamic modelling and control of the large angle magnetic suspension test fixture.
Britcher, C. P. and Ghofrani, M. (1993). A magnetic suspension system with a large angular range. Review of scientific instruments 64 (7) , pp. 1910–1917.
Britcher, C. P., Ghofrani, M. and Britton, T. C. (1992). Analysis, modelling and simulation of the large-angle magnetic suspension test fixture.
Britcher, C. P. and Alcorn, C. W. (1991). Interference-free measurements of the subsonic aerodynamics of slanted-base ogive cylinders. AIAA journal 29 (4) , pp. 520–525.
Britcher, C. P. (1991). Recent aerodynamic measurements with magnetic suspension systems. High Reynolds Number Flows Using Liquid and Gaseous Helium , pp. 165.
Groom, N. J. and Britcher, C. P. (1991). Stability considerations for magnetic suspension systems using electromagnets mounted in a planar array.
Britcher, C. P., Kilgore, W. Allen. and Alcorn, C. W. (1989). Subsonic sting interference on the drag of a family of slanted-base ogive-cylinders.
Boyden, R. P., Kilgore, R. A., Tcheng, P. and Britcher, C. P. (1988). Super magnets for large tunnels.
Britcher, C. P., Goodyer, M. J., Eskins, J., Parker, D. and Halford, R. J. (1987). Digital control of wind tunnel magnetic suspension and balance systems.
Britcher, C. P. (1985). Progress toward magnetic suspension and balance systems for large wind tunnels.. J. AIRCRAFT. 22 (4) , pp. 264–269.
Britcher, C. P., Goodyer, M., Scurlock, R. and Wu, Y. (1984). A flying superconducting magnet and cryostat for magnetic suspension of wind-tunnel models. Cryogenics 24 (4) , pp. 185–189.
Britcher (1984). Progress towards large wind tunnel magnetic suspension and balance systems.

Book Chapters

Britcher, C. P. (1998). Application of magnetic suspension and balance systems to Ultra-High Reynolds number facilities Flow at Ultra-High Reynolds and Rayleigh Numbers (pp. 81–95) Springer.
Britcher, C. P. (1998). Opportunities for Application of Superconducting Magnet Technology to Large-Scale Magnetic Suspensions Advances in Superconductivity X (pp. 1319–1324) Springer.

Conference Proceeding

Britcher, C. P., Landman, D., Duvall, B., Dodda, V. KR., Lowe, C. and Patel, M. (2017). An Aeroacoustic Study of Propellers for Small Electric Propulsion Aircraft 23rd AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics Conference (pp. 3710).
Britcher, C. P., Joshi, K. K., Bledsoe, J. F. and White, E. (2016). Studies of a Hot Wire Anemometer with Digital Feedback 32nd AIAA Aerodynamic Measurement Technology and Ground Testing Conference (pp. 4324).
Phillips, B. D. and Britcher, C. P. (2014). A Study of Potential Test Capabilities of the NASA Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Wind Tunnel 30th AIAA Aerodynamic Measurement Technology and Ground Testing Conference (pp. 2654).
Koc, I., Britcher, C. P. and Wilkinson, S. (2012). Investigation and active control of bluff body vortex shedding using plasma actuators 6th AIAA Flow Control Conference, AIAA (pp. 2012).
Mokhtar, W. and Britcher, C. P. (2009). Further Analysis of Pickup Trucks Aerodynamics SAE World Congress and Exhibition.
Koc, I., Britcher, C. P. and Yalcin, S. Eren. (2008). Phase Averaged Velocity Fields for Bluff Bodies Using a PIV System Proceedings of IMECE2008, 2008 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition.
Williams, B. and Britcher, C. P. (2008). Development of an Acoustic Measurement Technique for Automobile Testing in Open-Jet Wind Tunnels 26th AIAA Aerodynamic Measurement Technology and Ground Testing Conference.
Mokhtar, W. and Britcher, C. P. (2007). A Numerical Method to Predict Boundary Distortion and Interference of Open Jet Test Sections 37th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit.
Newman, B. A., Britcher, C. P., Kassaye, Y., Roy, J., Krizansky, M. and Acheson, M. (2006). Descent Management Strategies for Future Small Aircraft Transportation Systems AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference and Exhibit.
Landman, D., Simpson, J., Mariani, R., Ortiz, F. and Britcher, C. P. (2005). A High Performance Aircraft Wind Tunnel Test Using Response Surface Methods U.S. Air Force T&E Days.
Newman, B. A., Britcher, C. P., Kassaye, Y., Roy, J., Krizansky, M. and Acheson, M. (2005). Trajectory Management Concepts for Future Small Aircraft Transportation Systems Arlington, Virginia: Proceedings of the AIAA-IEEE Digital Avionics Systems Conference .
Britcher, C. P. and Stephenson, P. (2005). Aerodynamic Calibration of an Automotive Climatic Wind Tunnel AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE 41st Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit.
Britcher, C. P. (2005). Comparison of Aerodynamic Measurements of a Full-Scale NASCAR in Open and Closed Jet Test Section SAE 2005 World Congress.
Ralston, J., Kochersberger, K., Britcher, C. P. and Hyde, K. (2004). 1903 Wright Flyer Simulation for Flight Support and Training AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference and Exhibit (pp. 4825).
Mokhtar, W. A. and Britcher, C. P. (2004). Boundary interference assessment and correction for open test section wind tunnels using panel methods 42nd AIAA Meeting (pp. 2004–609).
Shu, Q., Cheng, G., Yu, K., Hull, J. R., Demko, J. A., Britcher, C. P., Fesmire, J. E. and Augustynowicz, S. D. (2004). Low thermal loss cryogenic transfer line with magnetic suspension AIP Conference Proceedings (pp. 1869–1876).
Britcher, C. P. and Landman, D. (2003). A New Education Program for Aerospace Graduate Students 41st Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit (pp. 798).
Shu, Q., Cheng, G., Yu, K., Hull, J. R., Demko, J. A., Britcher, C. P., Fesmire, J. E. and Augustynowicz, S. D. (2003). Energy efficient cryogenic transfer line with magnetic suspension AIP Conference Proceedings (pp. 321–327).
Britcher, C. P. (2002). Ancient Integrals and Modern Numerics-Where’s the Physics? 20 th AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Conference, Saint Louis, MO.
Elsaadawy, E. and Britcher, C. P. (2002). Experimental investigation of the effect of propeller slipstream on a heat exchanger installation at low Reynolds number 1 st Unmanned Aerospace Vehicles, Systems, Technologies, and Operations Conference and Workshop, Portsmouth, VA.
Landman, D., Britcher, C. P. and Martin, P. (2000). A study of ground simulation for wind tunnel testing of full-scale NASCAR’s 38th Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit (pp. 153).
Elsaadawy, E. A. and Britcher, C. P. (2000). Experimental investigation of the effect of propeller slipstream on boundary layer behavior at low reynolds number 18th Applied Aerodynamics Conference (pp. 267–276).
Landman, D., Britcher, C. P. and Bennett, W. (1999). A power-on full-scale wind tunnel test of a UAV 17th Applied Aerodynamics Conference (pp. 3166).
Bloodgood, Jr, V. and Britcher, C. P. (1999). Design optimization of magnetic suspension systems 37th Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit (pp. 832).
Wang, T., Martin, P. and Britcher, C. P. (1999). Surface Heat Exchangers for Aircraft Applications: A Technical Review and Historical Survey 37th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit (pp. 1999–0119).
Britcher, C. P. and Landman, D. (1998). From the 30 by 60 to the Langley Full Scale Tunnel 36th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit (pp. 145).
Landman, D. and Britcher, C. P. (1995). Advanced experimental methods for multi-element airfoils 13th Applied Aerodynamics Conference (pp. 1784).
Britcher, C. P. (1993). Dynamic modelling of a laboratory model magnetic suspension test fixture with large angular capability PICAST’1 1993- Pacific International Conference on Aerospace Science and Technology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan (pp. 1506–1514).
ALCORN, C. and Britcher, C. P. (1993). The influence of the boundary layer on the subsonic near-wake of a family of bluff bodies 31st Aerospace Sciences Meeting (pp. 525).
Groom, N. J. and Britcher, C. P. (1992). A description of a laboratory model magnetic suspension test fixture with large angular capability Control Applications, 1992., First IEEE Conference on (pp. 454–459).
Britcher, C. P. (1992). Large-gap magnetic suspension systems International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension Technology, Part 2.
Britcher, C. P. (1988). Progress towards extreme attitude testing with Magnetic Suspension and Balance Systems 15th Aerodynamic Testing Conference (pp. 2012).
Alcorn, C. William. and Britcher, C. P. (1988). An experimental investigation of the aerodynamic characteristics of slanted base ogive cylinders using magnetic suspension technology AIAA 15th Aerodynamic Testing conference.
Kilgore, R. A., Dress, D. A., Wolf, S. WD., Branch, E. Techniques. and Britcher, C. P. (1988). TEST TECHNIQUES-A survey paper on cryogenic wind tunnels, adaptive wall test sections and magnetic suspension Transonic Symposium: Theory, Application, and Experiment, Volume 1 (pp. 705).
Britcher, C. P. and Goodyer, M. (1979). The Southampton University magnetic suspension/cryogenic wind tunnel facility International Symposium on Cryogenic Wind Tunnels, 1 st, Southampton, England (pp. 10).

Presentations

Bledsoe, J., White, R. and Britcher, C. P. (June , 2017). Development of a Digital Bridge Thermal Anemometer AIAA Aviation 2017 .
Mokhtar, W., Britcher, C. P. and Hasan, M. (October , 2015). Wall Interference of High-Blockage Vehicles – a CFD Study SAE 2015 Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress (COMVEC) Rosemont,IL.
Britcher, C. P. (June , 2015). Some Thought on Wind Tunnel Flow Quality 2nd Joint Conference of STAI and SATA Newport News,VA.
Britcher, C. P. (March , 2013). Real-World Design Challenges – a Crucial Component of STEM Teaching and Learning 2013 ASEE SE Regional Conference Cookeville,TN.
Britcher, C. P. and Grossman (March , 2013). Ten Years Experience with a Multi-University Collaborative Graduate Education Program 2013 ASEE SE Regional Conference Cookeville,TN.
Britcher, C. P. (October , 2001). An Analysis of Flight Number 4, December 17th, 1903 nternational Symposium on Flight Raleigh,NC.
Britcher, C. P. (October , 2000). The ODU Maglev Project Virginia Engineers Conference Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Britcher, C. P. (June , 1997). Jurassic Tunnel - the life, death and resurrection of the Langley Full Scale Tunnel Subsonic Aerodynamic Testing Association (SATA). Colorado Springs.
Britcher, C. P. (June , 1996). Application of magnetic suspension and balance systems to ultra-high Reynolds number facilities. International Workshop on High Reynolds Number Flows .
Britcher, C. P. (December , 1995). Some thoughts on unconventional low-drag heat exchangers for high-altitude atmospheric research aircraft ERAST Alliance, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center .
Britcher, C. P. (October , 1989). Recent aerodynamic measurements with magnetic suspension systems 7th Oregon Conference on Low Temperature Physics Eugene,OR.
Britcher, C. P., Dress, Johnson, W. and Boyden, R. (April , 1987). Status of aerodynamic tests using the 13 inch magnetic suspension and balance system 67th meeting of the Supersonic Tunnels Association Nashville, Tennessee.
Britcher, C. P. (April , 1985). Status of magnetic suspension research at NASA Langley Research Center 63rd meeting of the Supersonic Tunnels Association Dallas,Texas.
Boom, R., Eyssa, Y., McIntosh, G. and Britcher, C. P. (September , 1984). Superconducting electromagnets for large wind tunnel magnetic suspension and balance systems 1984 Applied Superconductivity Conference San Diego,California.
  • Honorary Superior Accomplishment Awards, NASA Langley Research Center
  • 2004: NASA Turning Goals into Reality (TIGR), NASA
  • 1995: Faculty of the Year Award, ODU AIAA Student Chapter
  • 1978: Royal Aeronautical Society Prize, University of Southampton

Organizational Chart