Sept. 22, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history On Sep. 24, 2010 at Edwards AFB - The 418 Flight Test Squadron concluded flight testing to evaluate modifications of the C-17 “Globemaster III” formation flight system. The system enabled pilots to monitor and fly the large transport with other C-17s at the same altitude and distance in any weather
Oct. 4, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history On Oct. 3, 1967 Maj. William J. “Pete” Knight flew the modified X-15A-2 to a speed of Mach 6.7 (4,520 mph). The aircraft was flown with its full ablative coating and external fuel tanks. A dummy ramjet mounted on the lower ventral stub stabilizer fell away during the flight as a result of severe
Sept. 29, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history This week we remember Air Force test pilot Capt. Milburn “Mel” Apt who lost his life during a flight test mission Sept. 27, 1956 at Edwards. Apt was making his first flight in the Bell X-2 and flew it to an unofficial record speed of Mach 3.196, thus becoming the first person to exceed Mach 3. It is
Aug. 25, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history On Aug. 26, 1975 the McDonnell Douglas YC-15 flew from Long Beach, California, to Edwards on its first flight. The high-wing, four-engine aircraft utilized an innovative externally blown flap, propulsive-lift concept. It was the McDonnell Douglas entry into the Air Force’s Advanced Medium STOL
Sept. 15, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history On Sep. 13, 1985, at Edwards, then Maj. Wilbert D. “Doug” Pearson zoom-climbed a specially-configured F-15A to 38,000 feet and launched a Vought ASM-135A anti-satellite missile against an orbiting Solwind P78-1 satellite. The missile’s miniature kinetic-kill vehicle intercepted and destroyed the
Aug. 18, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history On Aug. 16, 1948 the XF-89 Scorpion made its first flight, flown by Northrop test pilot Fred C. Bretcher. The twin-jet night fighter was selected by the Air Force after a fly-off with the XF-87 and the Navy’s Douglas XF3D-1 Skyknight because of its potential for development.
Nov. 3, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history On Nov. 3, 1966, the North American XB-70 Valkyrie flights resumed as aircraft No. 1 made the first of nine flights in support of the National Sonic Boom Program. This was a joint NASA/U.S. Air Force research program, which concluded Jan. 31, 1967.
Oct. 27, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history On Oct. 24, 1968, at Edwards - The X-15 made its final flight, piloted by Bill Dana. In 199 flights, the hypersonic aircraft completed one of the most successful space and atmospheric research programs to date.
Oct. 20, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history On Oct. 20, 1956, actor William Holden and other Hollywood personalities attended the grand opening of the new base theater and viewed a screening of “Toward the Unknown,” which had been filmed on the base. This marked the official opening of the new base theater.
Nov. 10, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history On Nov. 7, 2000, the Lockheed Martin X-35A accomplished its first aerial refueling. During its 10th flight, the Joint Strike Fighter demonstrator completed four refueling evolutions from a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker at 23,000 feet and verified its compatibility with the tanker’s flow-field wake and