April 21, 2010 418th FLTS breaks record with heaviest airdrop Whether it's breaking through the sound barrier or flying different aircraft at the highest possible altitude, Edwards is no stranger to setting aviation records. Flight Test Nation delivered another first when the 418th Flight Test Squadron set a record for the heaviest single payload ever
Jan. 30, 2019 418th FLTS completes ‘banner’ year, now begins KC-46A Phase III testing The 418th Flight Test Squadron and Global Reach Combined Test Force had a busy and successful 2018. The squadron oversaw “revolutionary” flight control upgrades for C-17 Globemaster IIIs in landing and air refueling modes; the final parachute certification air drops of NASA's new Orion space
Oct. 9, 2018 418th FLTS completes 10-year support of NASA Orion parachute tests For a decade the 418th Flight Test Squadron has supported NASA by supplying C-17 Globemaster IIIs and personnel to assist with the testing and qualifying of the Orion spacecraft’s parachute system. That support ended Sept. 12 with the success of the final parachute system test over the U.S. Army’s
April 28, 2009 418th FLTS deactivates Georgia detachment April 15, the 418th Flight Test Squadron closed a chapter of its history books with the official deactivation of Detachment 4, in Marietta, Ga. The detachment, located inside the Lockheed Martin Engineering Test Center, was formed in 2002 to support developmental testing of the C-5 Galaxy
Aug. 20, 2015 418th FLTS does prerequisite testing for KC-46 program The 418th Flight Test Squadron is setting the stage for the arrival of the new KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueler with legacy tanker fuel surge testing conducted July 26 through Aug. 9. Both the KC-135 and the KC-10 were tested successively on the ground to baseline surge pressure environments.The same
April 1, 2009 418th FLTS loses in 'battle of the bulge' The 418th Flight Test Squadron lost 247 pounds to win in a battle to be fit and healthy during the squadron's "Biggest Loser" competition held from Jan. 9 to March 27. With eight, five-man teams, 16 military and 24 civilian and contractors participated in the squadron-wide competition. "The 'Biggest
March 10, 2008 418th FLTS outfits Antarctic-bound C-130 with 8 blades The 418th Flight Test Squadron here replaced the C-130H Hercules' four-bladed propellers with new eight-bladed NP-2000 propellers Feb. 21 in support of the New York Air National Guard's Operation Deep Freeze mission to Antarctica.The 418th FLTS team started installing the propellers on a Wyoming Air
Jan. 23, 2013 418th FLTS prepares to test India's first C-17 at Edwards With Boeing's completion of the Indian Air Force's first C-17 heavy-lift aircraft in early January 2013, the 418th Flight Test Squadron became the first squadron to fly India's newest acquisition in order to begin testing it at Edwards.The 418th FLTS flew the C-17, known as IN1, during a ferry
July 16, 2013 418th FLTS stands up detachment in support of KC-46 In light of Boeing's recent announcement they have begun assembly of the first KC-46 wing spar for the Air Force tanker program, Air Force Materiel Command officially stood-up the 418th Flight Test Squadron, Detachment 1, during an activation ceremony July 11 in Seattle, Wash. "The detachment was
July 19, 2017 418th FLTS supports Missile Defense Agency test success A C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 418th Flight Test Squadron air-launched a ballistic missile target over the Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii July 11. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense weapon system located at Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska in Kodiak, Alaska, detected, tracked and