April 13, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On April 11, 1992, the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III successfully completed its first in-flight refueling mission from a KC-135 Stratotanker.
Feb. 23, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On Feb. 21, 1953, a variant of the Bell X-1, the Bell X-1A, made its first powered flight, flown by Jean “Skip” Ziegler.
Feb. 15, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On Feb. 15, 1958, the first Convair B-58 Hustler (55-665) arrived at the Flight Test Center for Phase IV testing, concluding a combined delivery and test flight. The four engine delta winged aircraft was the world’s first bomber designed to sustain supersonic speeds during its mission profile. This
Feb. 9, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On Feb. 11 1945, the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation’s XP-81 made its first flight at Muroc. It was piloted by Frank Davis.
March 16, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On March 15, 2007, the YAL-1 Airborne Laser conducted the first in-flight test firings of its Target Illuminator Laser. Multiple beams of photons were directed against an NKC-135E Big Crow target aircraft off the California coastline. The kilowatt-class TIL tracks a potential target and measures
March 3, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history 27 Feb 1958 at Edwards - A test team began a series of performance, stability and control flight tests of the Lockheed CL-329 JetStar, a small, high-speed utility transport. The prototype aircraft was configured with two Bristol Siddeley Orpheus engines. (Edwards History Office file photo)
March 23, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On March 23, 1948, the Douglas XF3D Skyknight made its first flight, with Douglas test pilot Russell Thaw at the controls. The F3D, a large twin-engine night fighter developed for the Navy, had been trucked in to Muroc Army Airfield from El Segundo, California, for its flight test program.
May 18, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On May 18, 1953, Jacqueline Cochran made two supersonic dives in a Canadian-built (Canadair) F-86E Sabre and became the first woman to exceed the speed of sound. Later that day she flew the same plane over Edwards AFB’s low-level course, a 12-pylon, 100-kilometer track, to a new women’s absolute
July 22, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history July 20, 1982 - The first flight of the F-16XL took place. General Dynamics modified a FSD F-16 to answer a U.S. Air Force requirement for a dual-role, longer-range fighter to support future air combat requirements. The F-16XL featured a cambered, cranked-delta wing with a sharp leading-edge sweep
Aug. 2, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history August 6, 1980 - A B-1 Lancer Combined Test Force crew completed an 11-hour sortie in B-1 No. 4. This was the longest nonstop flight ever logged by a B-1.