Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'Flight Test'.
-
During the second half of the 11-month course, the USAF Test Pilot School would bring in aircraft from other units for student sorties to qualitatively evaluate aircraft flying qualities and systems performance. The intent was to give the widest experience possible in evaluating a variety of aircraft. Here, the visiting Scooters at Edwards from the Pacific Fleet Adversary unit, Attack Squadron 127 ("The Cylons"), out of NAS Miramar, providing sorties for TPS Class 81A, October 1981. 153681 153683 154657 Thanks for looking, Sven Old Viper Tester
- 3 replies
-
- 20
-
-
-
- Flight Test
- TA-4J
- (and 1 more)
-
In 1980, Eglin AFB was an Air Force Systems Command base. The host unit was the Air Force Development Test Center with its flying activities under the 3246th Test Wing. Tenant units with flying operations were the Tactical Air Warfare Center (TAWC) and the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, both were Tactical Air Command units. TAWC fight operations were accomplished by the 53rd Fighter Weapons Wing and the 4485th Test and Evaluation Squadron. The USAF Armament Museum is also located at Eglin AFB. A-10A 73-1668, 3246TW A-10A 79-0166, 4485TES F-4C 64-0817, 3246TW F-4C 64-0875, 3246TW RF-4C 63-7742, 3246TW F-4D 65-0698, 3246TW F-4D 66-8699, 3246TW F-4E 66-0295, 4485TES F-4E 66-0308, 4485TES F-4E 67-0265, 3246TW F-15A 77-0064, 4485TES F-15B 77-0161, 3246TW F-16A 79-0328, 4485TES F-16A 80-0551, 4485TES F-111E 68-0058, 3246TW T-38A 61-0874, 3246TW T-38A 70-1571, 3246TW T-38A 70-1557, 3246TW Some Armament Museum aircraft... P-51D 44-13571 (Cavalier Mustang 68-15796) P-47N 44-89320 F-101B 56-0250 CIM-10A 55-22010 BQM-34C Thanks for looking, Sven Old Viper Tester
-
During the second half of the 11-month course, the USAF Test Pilot School would bring in aircraft from other units for student sorties to qualitatively evaluate aircraft flying qualities and systems performance. The intent was to give the widest experience possible in evaluating a variety of aircraft. As part of that program, if it wasn't possible to bring the aircraft to Edwards, a student team would go to another base to conduct evaluations. Probably the most unusual of the off-base evaluations was the Goodyear blimp. Anyway, one of the more popular evaluation airframes was the F-105 - so long as they were still in the USAF inventory. Here, the visiting Thuds at Edwards from the 466th Tac Fighter Squadron, 419th Tac Fighter Wing, Air Force Reserve out of Hill AFB, providing sorties for TPS Class 83A, October 1983. F-105D 62-4387 F-105F 63-8261 F-105F 63-8287 F-105F 63-8309 Thanks for looking, Sven Old Viper Tester
-
F-16C s/n 83-1118. The first F-16C Block 25 airframe and the first of three initial F-16C airframes that were all turned over to the 6510th Test Wing at Edwards AFB and referred to as the "Three Sisters": 83-1118. '119 and '120. August 1989 - The centerline store is a flight test special instrumentation recording pod, she always carried it. The orange bands denote modified equipment. I think she was always fitted with the flight test nose boom with yaw and pitch vanes as well. The black 'blivet' ahead of the vertical tail fairing was referred to as the "disco ball" - it was a retro-reflector housing with silver apertures encased all around it. January 1991 October 1991 December 1992 Thanks for looking, Sven Old Viper Tester
-
- 10
-
-
-
- F-16C
- Flight Test
- (and 1 more)
-
T-38A operated by the 6512th Test Squadron, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB. In the 1980s, T-38s were used mostly as safety/photo chase for F-15 and F-16 test missions. Sometimes used as radar targets for airborne radar test missions. May 1985 At this time, '825 was designated the personal mount of Major General Peet Odgers, Commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center January 1990 Thanks for looking, Sven Old Viper Tester
- 1 reply
-
- 10
-
-
- T-38A
- Flight Test
- (and 1 more)
-
Some shots of Full Scale Development F-16B 75-0752 after she was bailed to General Dynamics for J79 engine integration evaluation. In this configuration, she was one-of-a-kind and the concept was eventually shelved. On the Edwards AFB ramp during pre-flight checks, November 1980. On display at the NAS Miramar Air Show, August 1983. Carried these markings while being demonstrated to the Navy as a potential Naval Fighter Weapons School aggressor. Elongated intake splitter plate to accommodate the J79 engine air flow requirement. Fuselage extension and J79 exhaust nozzle. Ad from Aviation Week and Space Technology magazine, 1980. Thanks of looking, Sven Old Viper Tester
- 8 replies
-
- 19
-
-
-
- F-16B
- Flight Test
- (and 1 more)
-
The sole North American Aviation FJ-4B operated by Flight Systems Inc. USN Bureau Number 143575. Used primarily to test missile radar guidance systems. Carried the civil registration N400FS and later, N9255. When it passed to civilian hands in 1991, it was re-registered as N400FS again and is still flying. August 1981 October 1982 Thanks for looking, Sven Old Viper Tester
- 3 replies
-
- 10
-
-
-
- FJ-4B
- Flight Test
- (and 1 more)
-
This is a follow-up to a photography post I made here in 2017. That post centered on one particular A-37B during a USAF Test Pilot School departure and spin training mission. Dragonflies were used by the 6510th Test Wing at Edwards AFB for flight test support missions and as USAF Test Pilot School curriculum aircraft. The Test Pilot School (TPS) used the A-37B to teach aircraft performance test techniques and for departure from controlled flight and spin test techniques and evaluations. The Test Pilot School aircraft could be distinguished by the flight test nose-boom installed in place of the aerial refueling probe. The spin aircraft took quite a beating during the departure maneuvers. My favorite was climbing as the airspeed decreased and then putting in hard lateral stick to a 90-deg bank, transitioning pitch to yaw, resulting in a spin - often inverted. On one occasion, the aircraft came back with one horizontal tail now bent downward about 20 degrees. Test support missions were primarily safety and photo chase, and were flown by the 6512th Test Squadron. In the mid-eighties the designation was changed from A-37B to OA-37B to indicate the forward air control mission. At about the same time, the TPS airframes were given the designation NOA-37B - the "N" indicating that permanent test modifications had been made to the airframe. 70-1310, January 1982. The YAPS (Yaw and Pitch Sensor) nose boom characteristic of a TPS aircraft. The black bar on the top and bottom of the right wing was to allow quick determination of the aircraft attitude in a spin by aerial and ground observers. 70-1310, July 1984. 70-1310, May 1985. In August 1994, this aircraft crashed in the desert north of Edwards after a stuck valve in one of the tip tanks created a fuel imbalance resulting in an unrecoverable spin. The crew ejected safely. 73-1060, March 1982. Still bears the crescent and fleur-de-lis of the 706TFS (AFRES) on the tip tanks. 73-1090, March 1981. 73-1090, October 1991. 73-1101, October 1991. 73-1102, October 1991. 73-1101 and '1102 were transferred to the 6510TW in late 1990/early 1991. It was hoped that these airframes would be converted to TPS airframes, but it was determined that the flying hours and condition of the airframes made the conversion impractical and they were excessed to AMARG in 1992. Thanks for looking, Sven
- 1 reply
-
- 15
-
-
-
- A-37B
- Flight Test
- (and 1 more)
-
A-7D, s/n 71-0339, was a support jet with the 6512th Test Squadron, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB. It was primarily used as a systems trainer for the USAF Test Pilot School (TPS) and as a support aircraft for other aircraft test flights, usually F-15s or F-16s. '339 was transferred from the 107th Tac Fighter Squadron, Michigan Air National Guard in early 1989. Ready to serve as a radar target with ALQ-188 ECM pods, October 1989 April 1990 September 1990 Thanks for looking, Sven
-
- 16
-
-
-
- A-7D
- Flight Test
- (and 1 more)
-
T-38A 67-14856, 6512th Test Squadron, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB. A test support aircraft used for safety and photo chase missions. Served occasionally as a radar target. May 1985 Formation proficiency mission, April 1989 Thanks for looking, Sven
- 2 replies
-
- 21
-
-
- T-38A
- Flight Test
- (and 1 more)
-
F-16C 88-0445, 6516th Test Squadron, F-16 Combined Test Force, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB. '445 was a dedicated test aircraft, used mostly for evaluation of software and radar upgrades. June 1990. The store on the centerline is a high-speed radar data recorder pod. These pods sere conversions of the original centerline fuel tanks used during Full-Scale Development testing. The orange stripe running longitudinally along the tank indicates flight test peculiar modifications or equipment. Radar test mission, January 1991. High-speed radar data recorder pod on the centerline - here, the orange stripe runs the circumference of the pod. Before engine start checks... Engine running and instrumentation pod checks... Chocks pulled and General Dynamics ground crew signaling hold before taxi. 83-1143 is waiting to taxi and served as the test mission safety chase and radar target... Taxiing out... Making a low pass during a sensor test in October 1990 carrying an ALQ-131 ECM pod on the centerlne. We had a missile sensor on top of a truck on Rodgers dry lake and various aircraft would make passes at various heights to see. how the sensor reacted. Thanks for looking, Sven
- 13 replies
-
- 24
-
-
-
- F-16C
- Flight Test
- (and 1 more)
-
F-4E s/n 66-0284 served as a test support aircraft at Edwards AFB from 1984 through 1992. She was operated by the 6512th Test Squadron, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center.. She was NOT part of the Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) chase flight, hence she did not have white upper wings when she wore the wrap-around SEA camouflage. Over the Mojave Desert, January 1985. On our wing for a straight-in approach to landing at Edwards, January 1985. Like all Edwards-based Phantoms, she got the "Albino Rhino" treatment in the 1987-88 time frame. Shown on the Edwards ramp in January 1989. Before her time at Edwards, '284 was a test support aircraft with the 3246th Test Wing at Eglin AFB. Thanks for looking' Sven
- 4 replies
-
- 13
-
-
-
- F-4E
- Flight Test
- (and 1 more)
-
TG-7A, USAF s/n 81-0886, belonging to the 94th Airmanship Training Squadron at the USAF Academy. She was on loan to the 6512th Test Squadron, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB in October 1984. The Academy had experienced some troubling approach-to-stall characteristics with the TG-7A, so this example was sent to the USAF Flight Test Center for evaluation. The 6512th was tasked with evaluating the aircraft flight characteristics and identifying any required mitigations in flight procedures. Note that the left wing has been "tufted" for airflow visualization. Thanks for looking, Sven Old Viper Tester
- 3 replies
-
- 11
-
-
- TG-7A
- Edwards AFB
- (and 1 more)
-
Another test support fleet phantom with the 6512th Test Squadron at Edwards AFB. June 1983 in Air Defense Command Gray October 1983 with the ED tail code added, leading F-4C 64-0727 March 1985 in the test support albino scheme with patchwork external tanks May 1985 January 1989 with an unusual white radome May 1989 during a formation proficiency mission July 1990 September 1990 Thanks for looking, Sven
- 4 replies
-
- 23
-
-
-
- F-4C
- Flight Test
- (and 1 more)
-
F-15 77-0139 was assigned to the F-15 Combined Test Force (CTF) at Edwards AFB for its entire career. Its primary mission was engine testing of various modifications to the P&W F100 and how the engine behaved in the F-15. The F-15 CTF comprised cadre from AF Systems Command, McDonnell-Douglas, Pratt & Whitney, and occasionally, Tactical Air Command. The F-15 CTF was one of several CTFs (A-10, B-1, C-17, etc.) under the 6510th Test Wing of the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards. The designation of the Systems Command CTF component changed a few times throughout its life. Originally just identified as the AFSC component, in March 1989 it was given the designation 6515th Test Squadron. In October 1989, the new Chief of Staff of the Air Force decreed that all 4-digit unit designations be abolished, and the 6515th became the 415th Flight Test Squadron, assuming the heritage of the 415th Bomb Squadron. The parent wing, the 6510th Test Wing, became the 412th Test Wing. In 1994, F-15 flight test at Edwards had diminished and the 415th was absorbed into the 445th Test Squadron. Testing the A/A37 Aerial Gunnery Target System (carried by F-4E 66-0368), 1980 On static display for some VIP visitors, April 1983. Flying a bombing proficiency mission, July 1984. Most 6510TW aircraft were given "ED" tail codes in early 1984. Testing the new -229 variant of the F100 engine, April 1988. A single -229 was installed in the left engine bay and -100 in the right. On the F-15 CTF ramp in February 1989. Thanks for looking, Sven
- 3 replies
-
- 14
-
-
- F-15A
- Flight Test
- (and 1 more)
-
F-16Cs 83-1143 and 88-0445, 6516th Test Squadron, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB. Ready to taxi out for a radar test mission. '445 is the test jet and carries a centerline pod containing high-speed radar data recording equipment - the orange stripe indicates the pod carried unique test equipment. While '143 was a test jet in its own right, on this mission it is being used as a radar target for '445. General Dynamics crews and maintenance personnel were part of the F-16 Combined Test Force at Edwards (part of the "Combined" unit monicker) - and they still are today as Lockheed Martin Fort Worth. The F-16 test fleet was split between General Dynamics and USAF maintenance teams, '143 and'445 were GD maintained jets at this time. The pilots are USAF assigned to the 6516th Test Squadron. The Israeli jet (301, USAF s/n 86-1598) in the background was testing the Peace Marble II (Block 30) configuration for that Foreign Military Sales program. Cockpit checks. GD crew chief on the intercom. Engine start. Chocks away. '445 crew chief signaling brakes/hold. '143 crew chief signaling begin taxi. Brakes checked and out of the parking spot. The crew chief has done the check for leaks and gives the thumbs up. Thanks for looking, Sven
-
F-16Cs 83-1143 and 88-0445, 6516th Test Squadron, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB. Ready to taxi out for a radar test mission. '445 is the test jet and carries a centerline pod containing high-speed radar data recording equipment - the orange stripe indicates the pod carried unique test equipment. While '143 was a test jet in its own right, on this mission it is being used as a radar target for '445. General Dynamics crews and maintenance personnel were part of the F-16 Combined Test Force at Edwards (part of the "Combined" unit monicker) - and they still are today as Lockheed Martin Fort Worth. The F-16 test fleet was split between General Dynamics and USAF maintenance teams, '143 and'445 were GD maintained jets at this time. The pilots are USAF assigned to the 6516th Test Squadron. The Israeli jet (301, USAF s/n 86-1598) in the background was testing the Peace Marble II configuration for that Foreign Military Sales program. Cockpit checks. GD crew chief on the intercom. Engine start. Chocks away. '445 crew chief signaling brakes/hold. '143 crew chief signaling begin taxi. Brakes checked and out of the parking spot. The crew chief has done the check for leaks and gives the thumbs up. Thanks for looking, Sven
-
RF-4C, 64-1004 (AKA "Balls four"), assigned to the 6512th Test Squadron (Test Ops), 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB. Test support involved being used by the USAF Test Pilot School for practicing test techniques, being a photo/safety chase or being a radar target for flight test missions. She came from RAF Alconbury where she suffered a barrier engagement in 1967, and required depot repairs (sheared the nose gear, one main mount through the wing and the wing broken off). Not surprising that when the USAF requested a jet for AF Systems Command at Edwards, she was the one they gave up. Some of the test crews swear she was bent. December 1983, a few months after arriving from Alconbury. The blue and white canopy trim is a holdover from the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. March 1985 May 1985: The Blue and white canopy trim painted over with black(?!?). Apparently having a flight controls investigation evidenced by the leading edge flaps down and the hydraulics 'Mule' in front of the right wing. January 1989, the white and red "Bozo" scheme was applied around 1987, about the same time that her official designation was changed to NRF-4C. The "N" indicating permanent flight test modifications have been made. July 1990 September 1990 She was retired in early 1992 and sent to the Edwards AFB Flight Test Museum. Thanks for looking, Sven
- 8 replies
-
- 21
-
-
- Flight Test
- 6512TS
- (and 1 more)
-
F-4D 66-7483, a test support fleet jet of the 6512th Test Squadron (Test Ops), 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB. She was re-designated as an NF-4D in 1987, indicating she had permanent flight test modifications. March 1981 Target mission for an F-15C radar test. ALQ-188 ECM pod for trying to "farkle" the Eagle's APG-63 radar. December 1983 Two formation/chase proficiency missions, February and March 1985 March 1985 On the Edwards main ramp with F-4C 63-7409 and F-4D 65-0670, May 1985. January 1989 Formation/chase proficiency mission April 1989 Waiting for the crew to show, July 1990 She left Edwards in 1991, was bailed to Flight Systems Incorporated at Mojave Airport as N430FS, and finally retired to AMARG in 2003. Thanks for looking, Sven
- 11 replies
-
- 26
-
-
-
- Flight Test
- 6512TS
- (and 1 more)
-
F-16A, USAF s/n 80-0550, was allocated off the production line to the F-16 Combined Test Force, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB as a stability and control, loads and flutter test airframe. I say flutter as one of the flight test disciplines, though in the '80s, the adage was that "the F-16 did not experience flutter" but, instead, limit cycle oscillations (LCO). So when you saw that wing tip vibrating away, it was the digital flight controls unable to keep up with the aerodynamic forces that were bending that wing - still looked like flutter to me. October 1982 - fitted with engineering mock-ups of the LANTIRN navigation and targeting pods testing aircraft flying qualities with the pods fitted and the airframe structural response. A lucky shot as we barrel rolled over him to set up for a test point. Gives a good view of the arrangement of load distribution straps and attachment fittings for the spin recovery parachute quadrapod. January 1983 - Continued LANTIRN pod effects testing. October 1983 - After being fitted with an F-16C vertical tail. February 1990 - Deeper pylons to accommodate AIM-7 Sparrows for testing compatibility with the F-16C configuration. January 1991 - Fitted with the spin recover parachute quadrapod Not '550 (she is in the background), but an image of the full spin recovery parachute apparatus. The red and blue canister contains the parachute and the deployment mortar. The parachute attachment harness comes out of a slot beneath the red canister section and attached to the quadrapod. The attachment fittings and straps on the fuselage distribute the forces from the deployed parachute so that the aft fuselage doesn't get ripped away when the chute yanks the tail up while the aircraft is falling through the air out of control. Thanks for looking, Sven
- 4 replies
-
- 13
-
-
-
- Flight Test
- F-16A
- (and 1 more)
-
F-4E s/n 66-0291 is an ex-Thunderbird aircraft. She served as a test support aircraft at Edwards AFB from 1978 through 1991. Operated by the 6512th Test Squadron, throughout the early 1980s is was part of the Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) chase flight, hence the white upper wings with the camouflage schemes. The N prefix indicating a permanent flight test modification was installed in/on the airframe. Doing her thing (1980?)... October 1982 January 1985 May 1985 October 1989 - received the "Bozo" white and red scheme in 1987. Thanks for looking, Sven
- 5 replies
-
- 12
-
-
-
- F-4E
- Edwards AFB
- (and 1 more)
-
Some images of Full Scale Development F-16A 75-0750 Advanced Fighter technology Integration test bed. During display at three Edwards AFB Open House. October 1982 Stores separation camera housing beneath the rear fuselage. October 1984 - sensor pods added at the wing roots. October 1991 - Ejection seat upgrade and IRST added between the radome and cockpit. Thanks for looking, Sven
- 15 replies
-
- 23
-
-
-
T-38A 70-1579, operated by the 6512th Test Squadron, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB. On the Edwards AFB main ramp, May 1985. Loose formation while returning to Edwards AFB after playing targets for an F-15 radar test mission, May 1985. That's the Boron mine in the background. Power Approach configuration, May 1985. On the Edwards main ramp, October 1991. Baggage pod on the centerline. Name on the forward canopy rail is "Brig Gen Roy D. Bridges", commander of the AF Flight Test Center at the time. Name on the rear canopy rail is "Maj Brett Vance", the general's executive officer. On the Edwards main ramp, September 1992. The AF Systems Command shield replaced with the AF Materiel Command shield following the merger of Logistics and Systems Commands. Thanks for looking, Sven
-
Some shots of A-7D 69-6217 of the 6512th Test Squadron, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, during a radar target mission in June 1992. The SLUFF was acting as a target and threat simulator for an F-16D radar test. Most of the mission was the two aircraft lining up at opposite ends of the test range - an area called Cords Road - and then flying towards each other at various speeds and altitudes. The A-7 would execute various briefed maneuvers or radiate ECM threat simulations. Typically the aircraft would merge and then fly through to the opposite ends of the area again - sort of like jousting - then repeat for as many events as the mission required. Sitting on the runway for takeoff. The A-7 would take off first fly the runway circuit and call the F-16 to take off such that they joined up immediately after the F-16 takeoff. This was to allow the A-7 to inspect the F-16 for any leaking fluids, open panels, landing gear completely up, etc. Once the A-7 called "Clean and dry" the two would separate to the ends of the test area and begin the radar jousting. After the radar testing we rejoined for some formation work while returning to base. the pod on the right wing is an ALQ-167 variant. I think it was referred to as the Bullwinkle pod. The pod under the left wing is an ALQ-188. Both the -167 and -188 are used for threat simulations. Thanks for looking, Sven- 10 replies
-
- 30
-
-
-
F-16XL-2, 75-0747, operated by the F-16XL Combined Test Force, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB. Images are from a mission flown on 7 April 1983, possibly the only mission with this configuration. Streamlined fairings are installed on the wingtips in place of the 16S210 AIM-9 launch rails. Over Rogers Dry Lake on straight-in final approach to Runway 22. Thanks for looking, Sven
- 4 replies
-
- 13
-
-
-
- F-16XL
- Edwards AFB
- (and 1 more)