This week in Edwards flight test history

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  • By 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  

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.