ADVANCING TURBINE TECHNOLOGIES FOR RELEVANT INLET TEMPERATURE PROFILES IN THE STEADY THERMAL AERO RESEARCH TURBINE (START) LAB THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INVESTIGATE TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES TO MEET THE GOAL OF SIMPLE CYCLE GAS TURBINE EFFICIENCY INCREASING TO 67% WHILE EXPANDING POTENTIAL RANGES OF FUELS AND COMBUSTOR DESIGNS. SPECIFICALLY, THIS PROJECT WILL EVALUATE THE USE OF HIGH TEMPERATURE MATERIALS, NAMELY CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES (CMCS) WITH THE INTENTION OF REDUCING THE NEED FOR TURBINE COOLING AIR, WHICH IS A PARASITIC LOSS IN TERMS OF EFFICIENCY.