Design of static reaction gantry for an ultralight airplane destruction test

The steel gantry superstructure needed to perform an airplane static test is described. Standard civil engineering design practices are used to react the loads generated by an airplane in flight. Reaction columns are mounted on a structural floor to carry the wing airloads and the downward acting fuselage loads are carried directly into the floor. The gantry can accommodate a general aviation airplane or rotorcraft. An immediate use for an ultralight airplane is shown as an example configuration of the four main steel frames.