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. 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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.