Rohr Brown Field

Written and compiled by S. Poole

Rohr's Brown Field engine test facility was the site for a year of design, tooling and full-scale testing for "both the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and Boeing 747 powered by higher thrust models of the Pratt & Whitney JT9D engine installed in the Rohr Common Nacelle System (Rohr, 1975, p. 4).

The Rohr Brown Field Test Site was "just 10 miles southeast of the Chula Vista plant." At Brown Field jet nacelles, thrust reversers and acoustic designs were ground tested. This facility made "a major contribution to engine noise reduction and thrust reverser technology" (Rohr, 1987).

Brown Field was the site of the "History of Flight" aerial pageant, on May 26, 1979, that highlighted "the advances made in both manned and unmanned aircraft." A replica of the Spirit of St. Louis was one of the historic aircrafts flown that weekend (Rohr News, May 25, 1979). 

This was the test stand built to handle the outdoor testing for large P&W engines like the JT9-D back in the 70's. These pics are of the thrust calibration process.

Submitted by Gale Morganroth, 3/24/2019.

References: 
Rohr Industries, Inc. 1975 Annual Report.
Rohr Industries, Inc. Handbook for Salaried Employees. Riverside. 1987.