For more than a decade NSF, NCAR, and the atmospheric and oceanic research communities expressed a strong scientific need for a high-performance, mid-sized jet research aircraft. Such an aircraft would allow investigators to conduct vital new research studies in currently inaccessible regions of the Earth's atmosphere. It would carry a wide variety of payloads and support a broad array of advanced instrumentation, science stations, communications technologies, and many remote-sensing applications. The new research jet would also be able to operate reliably and efficiently from a variety of sites worldwide.

In response to this well established and often repeated scientific need, the NSF Directorate for Geosciences proposed the acquisition of a High-Performance Instrumented Airborne Platform for Environmental Research (HIAPER) for the NSF fleet. In August 1997, a HIAPER Project Development Plan was submitted to the National Science Board (NSB). The NSB gave the plan a favorable review and approved the continuation of the planning effort.

Scientific Justification for HIAPER

The scientific justification and intended research applications for HIAPER are outlined in the original proposal, a document titled Management of HIAPER System Acquisition and Integration: A Plan Proposed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research to the National Science Foundation. This document is available for download in the following link:

Download File/Document File Type/Size Management of HIAPER System Acquisition and Integration RTF, 10MB

Determining Operational Requirements of HIAPER

To find out the needs of the research community, the Atmospheric Technology Division (ATD) surveyed 150 potential users in the summer of 1998. The respondents to A Community Survey for the Operational Requirements of HIAPER were asked to identify both "desirable" and "essential" capabilities for HIAPER. Survey results led to a list of basic desired specifications for aircraft altitude, endurance, range, payload, and floor space.     [more information]

A HIAPER Community Workshop was conducted in May, 1999. Workshop participants worked to develop a consensus view regarding aircraft capabilities and aircraft modifications and made an initial determination regarding primary instrumentation requirements, as well as aircraft missions scenarios.
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HIAPER Request for Proposal

A HIAPER Request for Proposal (RFP) was drafted in July 2000 by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). The RFP requested proposals for the delivery of the HIAPER modified airframe, and the subsequent maintenance and support services of that airframe.

Download File/Document File Type/Size Request for Proposal (RFP) PDF*, 354KB Amendment to RFP PDF*, 8KB

* Note: Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view PDF files.

HIAPER Contract Award and Funding

In December 2001, a contract was awarded to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (a General Dynamics company) for production of the HIAPER green airframe, a Gulfstream V (GV) business jet. Under the terms of this contract, Gulfstream served as the primary subcontractor and, in addition to manufacturing the basic aircraft, oversaw the work of the aircraft modifier, Lockheed Martin. Gulfstream also oversaw the work of the company responsible for interior and exterior completion, Garrett Aviation Consulting Group.

Contract award to Gulfstream was the culmination of a multi-year effort to define the requirements for HIAPER, select a contractor, and secure NSF funding for the project. In the fall of 2001, negotiations with Gulfstream were concluded and the National Science Board approved the resulting deal. Congress appropriated an additional $35 million for fiscal year 2002 for the project which, in combination with the $21 million allocated previously, allowed for the purchase through NSF's Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) fund. In 2003, the remaining funds needed to complete the program were awarded by Congress. At the time of completion, HIAPER and associated new research instrumentation cost $81.5 million.