This week in Edwards history Published May 1, 2018 By 412th Test Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- On April 30, 1966, Air Force Flight Test Center test pilot Col. Joseph F. Cotton saved XB-70 Valkyrie #2 from destruction following an in-flight emergency in which the landing gear failed to lower into position. He crawled to a relay box containing two malfunctioning terminals and short-circuited them with a paper clip, whereupon the gear extended normally.