System and method for ground vibration testing and weight and balance measurement

An apparatus for supporting an aircraft for ground vibration testing, comprising:

• a plurality of pressure canisters supported on a supporting surface
• a pair of hanger beams, each hanger beam extending between and supported by a pair of the pressure canisters;
• a hanger rod extending downwardly from each one of the hanger beams;
• a lifting beam having opposing ends coupled to the hanger rods;
• and
• a compression load cell interposed between the lifting beam and a jack point of a landing gear, the load cell being configured to provide an indication of a weight of the aircraft when the aircraft is lifted off the supporting surface.

A method of ground vibration testing of an aircraft, comprising the steps of:

• engaging the aircraft with a plurality of measurement devices, each one of the measurement devices being coupled to at least one lifting mechanism engaged to a jack point of the aircraft;
• lifting the aircraft off of a supporting surface using the lifting mechanisms;
• determining a weight of the aircraft based on outputs of the measurement devices;
• and
• performing ground vibration testing of the aircraft.