Aug. 11, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history On Aug. 12, 1972 the McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle successfully passed its first flight performance milestone six weeks ahead of schedule. This milestone consisted of Mach 2 flight and altitude and g-load targets.
Aug. 31, 2016 This week in Edwards flight test history Sept. 3, 1985 - Space Shuttle Discovery landed on lakebed Runway 23 following a successful mission to deploy three satellites and an on-orbit satellite repair task. Shuttle pilot Col. Joe Engle (United States Air Force Test Pilot School Class 61) carried an Air Force Flight Test Center flag and a
Jan. 19, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On Jan. 21, 1984, the first launch of an anti-satellite missile from an F-15 took place over the Pacific Ocean. The ASAT missile was launched at a specified point in space; no actual target was involved.
March 30, 2017 This Week in Edwards Flight Test History On March 28, 1983, the director of the F-15 Combined Test Force, Lt. Col. John M. Hoffman, flew the first of 27 high-angle-of attack-test flights on an F-15C with the test nose boom removed. This series proved that troublesome flight anomalies that had appeared on the F-15C had been caused by the
April 6, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On April 5, 1947, the second prototype of the Hughes XF-11 twin-boom reconnaissance aircraft made its first complete flight (takeoff and safe landing), piloted by Howard Hughes.
Jan. 26, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On Jan. 27, 1950, a ceremony was held in connection with Armed Forces Day to rename the base in honor of Capt. Glen W. Edwards. Edwards’ father, other family members and dignitaries were in attendance at the ceremony. One interesting fact is that the original plaque had a misspelling of Capt.
Feb. 2, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On Jan. 31, 1977, the first space shuttle orbiter, Enterprise, arrived. As many in the Antelope Valley witnessed, it was conveyed at 3 mph from Rockwell International’s assembly facility at Palmdale aboard a 90-wheel transporter. The unpowered version of the shuttle was housed at Dryden (now
March 8, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On March 10, 1959, the first of four captive-carry flights of the X-15 mated to its Boeing NB-52A Stratofortress “mother ship” (s/n 52-003A) took place. North American Aviation test pilot A. Scott Crossfield was in the cockpit of the X-15.
May 25, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On May 25, 1999, the F-117 test force completed the Single Configuration Fleet program. The SCF provided a uniform radar absorbing material coating for the entire F-117 fleet, significantly reducing costs and maintenance hours.
May 11, 2017 This week in Edwards flight test history On May 10, 1972, Fairchild Republic’s YA-10A Thunderbolt II made its first flight, flown by company chief test pilot Howard “Sam” Nelson. The twin-engine, twin-tailed ground attack aircraft was designed around the GAU-8 Avenger 30mm rotary cannon.