The use of aircraft is often valuable to position airborne sensors or to conduct experiments in ways not possible purely on the ground. An airframe, typically an older one, must be selected then adapted to the role -likely to include inlets, windows, structural changes, power supply, computing and data recording capacity, and likely the provision of external hardpoints. Once the research vehicle is created, the instruments on board will require calibration, either in isolation or by

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... ison against already calibrated instruments on board another aircraft. This calibration process will continue throughout the life of the airplane. Additionally, an operating organisation must be created and obtain any necessary organisational approvals. For some specialist applications, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles may also be used, which carry some special considerations of autonomy and interoperability, but similar concerns of instrument, vehicle and operational integrity.