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Dedicated to the pursuit of
Flight Test - Test to be the Best!
Attention!
The North Spin is looking for volunteer
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Thanks!
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Latest
Test News
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5/13/2009 - NASA
Gulfstream 950NA Joins the Airborne Laser
Program
Recently NASA's Gulfstream II '950NA' was
spotted wearing a unique new 'target' paint
scheme. This new look may seem odd, but it
serves a specific purpose. Full
Story
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5/5/2009 - Boeing
Unveils US Navy Paint Scheme for P-8A
Poseidon
The first painted P-8A Poseidon aircraft
rolls out of the paint hangar at Boeing's
Renton, Wash., facility, displaying its new
U.S. Navy livery. The aircraft, designated
T-2, is the third of five test aircraft
being assembled and tested as part of the
System Development and Demonstration
contract that Boeing received in 2004. Full
Story
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4/30/2009 - Arctic
Trek to 'Break the Ice' on New NASA
Airborne Radars
NASA will 'break the ice' on a pair of new
airborne radars that can help monitor
climate change when a team of scientists
embarks this week on a two-month expedition
to the vast, frigid terrain of Greenland and
Iceland. Full
Story
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4/29/2009 - Next
USN Maritime Patrol Plane Makes First
Flight
P-8A Poseidon, the Navy’s next maritime
patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, took to
the skies for the first time April 25. The
first test aircraft, designated T1,
successfully completed a series of flight
checks in Seattle. The aircraft took off
from Renton Field and landed 3 hours and 31
minutes later at the nearby Boeing Field. Full
Story
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4/27/2009 - F-35
'AG-1' Arrives in the United Kingdom for
Static Testing
After a three-week ocean voyage, a
static-test version of the Lockheed Martin
F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint
Strike Fighter, has arrived in the United
Kingdom. Full
Story
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4/16/2009 - NAVAIR
/ Northrop Team Build Three F-5F
"Franken-Tigers"
A NAVAIR and Northrop Grumman team designed
and built three F-5F Franken-Tiger Adversary
aircraft to meet an urgent Fleet
requirement. The F-5F Franken-Tiger was
built using parts from a Navy two-seat F-5F
Tiger II aircraft and from single-seat,
former Swiss Air Force, F-5E aircraft. Full
Story
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4/13/2009 -
Continued Testing with NASA's WB-57 #926
NASA's WB-57 #926 has recently been spotted
with new, fairly extensive modifications,
which appear to have been added to the
aircraft in late 2008, early 2009. The most
noticeable new features are a larger nose
radome, which possibly houses a new radar,
and a long thin radome mounted on the front
side of the fuselage. Full
Story
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4/9/2009 - Dryden
Aircraft Operations Facility Dedicated to
Earth, Space Science
NASA dedicated its new Dryden Aircraft
Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., a
world-class facility that is home to several
specialized NASA Earth and space science
aircraft, during ceremonies on Thursday,
April 9. Full
Story
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4/3/2009 - NASA
Dryden Director Kevin Petersen Retires
Kevin L. Petersen, director of NASA’s Dryden
Flight Research Center, retired from NASA,
effective April 3. A veteran aerospace
engineer and manager with 38 years
experience at NASA Dryden, Petersen has
served as the center’s director for more
than 10 years and is the longest-serving
field center director currently at NASA. Full
Story
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3/28/2009 - Dust
Devils Bring the Growler to Red Flag
The VX-31 "Dust Devils" participated in Red
Flag 09-3 at Nellis AFB recently and brought
their EA-18G #500, among other Hornets.
VX-31is based at China Lake NAWS and works
mainly on testing various weapons. Their
role at Red Flag focused on SEAD. Full
Story
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3/25/2009 -
Formation Flight of Six C-17s Made for
Flight System Test
The Global Reach Combined Test Force
concluded a colossal mission of performing a
formation test with six C-17 Globemaster
IIIs March 14 and 17. As the newest, most
flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift
fleet, the C-17 is capable of rapid
strategic delivery of troops and cargo to
main operating bases or directly to forward
bases in deployed environments. Full
Story
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3/25/2009 - Test
Pilot David Cooley Tragically Killed in
F-22A Crash
An Air Force F-22A crash today and
claimed the life of a USAF veteran and
Lockheed Martin test pilot. David Cooley,
49, of Palmdale, Calif., died when the F-22A
he was piloting crashed northeast of Edwards
AFB. Cooley worked as a test pilot with
Lockheed Martin, and was employed at the
411th Flight Test Squadron, 412th Test Wing,
on Edwards AFB. Cooley joined Lockheed
Martin in 2003 and was a 21-year veteran of
the U.S. Air Force. Full
Story
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3/20/2009 - 85th
Test & Evaluation Squadron Fields
Combat Proven Technology
When operational test pilots of the 85th
Test and Evaluation Squadron break something
in an airborne fighter jet, it's a good day.
It means they found a deficiency in a new
capability that will be addressed before it
goes to fighter pilots flying real-world
missions. Full
Story
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3/19/2009 - First
U.S. Marine Pilots Lockheed Martin F-35
Maj. Joseph T. "O.D." Bachmann today became
the first U.S. Marine Corps pilot to fly the
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, logging
the flight-test program’s 90th mission. He
is the fifth pilot to fly the stealthy,
multi-role fighter. Full
Story
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3/18/2009 - Only
Three Remain for H-3 Sea King 50th
Anniversary
The H-3 Sea King helicopter community
celebrated the 50th anniversary of the
aircraft’s historic first flight March 11.
The Sea King is a twin-engine, all-weather,
amphibious helicopter used for numerous
roles that include anti-submarine warfare,
anti-ship warfare, search and rescue,
transport, communications, airborne early
warning and executive transport. Full
Story
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3/12/2009 -
Developmental Test Pilots First Step in
Advancing the Warfighter
What the movie "Top Gun" did for fighter
pilots, "The Right Stuff" did for test
pilots. But developmental test pilots at
Eglin Air Force Base say test flying has
come a long way since the early days
depicted in the movie. Full
Story
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3/11/2009 - Joint
Navy F/A-18 Testing at Benefield Anechoic
Facility Complete
The 772nd Test Squadron teamed up with Naval
Air Weapons Station China Lake in a joint
effort to complete antenna pattern testing
on a Navy F/A-18C Hornet at the Benefield
Anechoic Facility at Edwards on Jan. 22. Full
Story
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3/10/2009 - JDAM
Adds Precision Punch to the Reaper
The already lethal MQ-9 Reaper unmanned
aircraft system will soon bring even more
punch to the enemy in the form of the Joint
Direct Attack Munition. The results of the
series of GBU-38 JDAM test drops at the
China Lake test range in California are
still being evaluated, but they mark a
significant step in certifying the Reaper to
carry the 500-pound version of the JDAM. Full
Story
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2/25/2009 -
MANPADS Testing Means More Survivable
Aircraft
The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons
Division Weapons Survivability Lab (WSL) at
China Lake recently developed and verified
the capability to accurately and
realistically test, evaluate, and document
the effects of a Man Portable Air Defense
System (MANPADS) impact on aircraft in an
effort to make them more survivable. Full
Story
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2/18/2009 - 416th
FLTS First AFMC Unit to Participate at Red
Flag
The 416th Flight Test Squadron "Skulls"
conquered the vast bombing and gunnery
ranges of Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., as
they participated in Red Flag 09-2 from Jan.
26 to Feb. 6, marking the first time an Air
Force Materiel Command unit has ever
deployed and participated in the exercise. Full
Story
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1/22/2009 -
Lancets Flights Probe Supersonic
Shockwaves
NASA is concluding a series of flight tests
to measure shock waves generated by an F-15
jet, in an effort to validate computer
models that could be used in designing
quieter supersonic aircraft. Full
Story
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1/15/2009 - NASA
Debuts Global Hawk Autonomous Aircraft for
Earth Science
NASA and Northrop Grumman Corporation have
officially unveiled the first Global Hawk
unmanned aircraft system to be used for
environmental science research, heralding a
new application for the world’s first fully
autonomous high-altitude, long-endurance
aircraft. Full
Story
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1/12/2009 - C-5M
Super Galaxy Completes Developmental
Testing in Alaska and Australia
The C-5M Super Galaxy
completed its second and final Integrated
Systems Evaluation test, flying a 56-hour,
27,000-mile mission around the Pacific Rim,
including stops in Alaska and Australia.
Full
Story
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12/9/2008 -
Lockheed and USAF Test Pilot School
Conduct First Successful Autoland of F-16
Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force Test
Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base,
Calif., have successfully demonstrated an
autonomous landing of the F-16 Fighting
Falcon, marking the first time an F-16 has
landed entirely under computer control. Full
Story
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12/7/2008 - New
Navy Range Support Helicopters for VX-31
"Dust Devils"
For a number of years, one of the additional
responsibilities of the VX-31 "Dust Devils"
has been flying the Base Flight Range
Support and SAR mission for the China Lake
Range. Until recently this mission was
typically flown using one of the red and
white HH-1N helicopters maintained by the
squadron at China Lake NAWS. Full
Story
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11/14/2008 - USAF
40th FLTS Makes First GBU-54 LJDAM Drop
from A-10
The 40th Flight Test Squadron, with support
from the 46th Test Wing, Boeing and a host
of other units, flew a quick yet historic
mission early in November. For the first
time, a guided bomb GBU-54, the Laser Joint
Directed Attack Munition, or LJDAM, was
dropped from an A-10C. Full
Story
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11/13/2008 - E-2D
Advanced Hawkeye Completes First
Operational Assessment
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye completed its
first Operational Assessment ahead of
schedule at Northrop Grumman's St. Augustine
Manufacturing Center, St. Augustine, Fla.,
Oct. 28. Full
Story
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11/12/2008 -
NAWCWD Point Mugu - China Lake Shuttle
Program Recognized
Rear Adm. David Dunaway, Naval Air Warfare
Center Weapons Division commander, recently
recognized the men and women of the NAWCWD
Metro III shuttle program, who have provided
contract and operations support for daily
air transportation between Point Mugu and
China Lake for the last 12 years.
Full
Story
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11/4/2008 - EA-18G
Moves to Operational Evaluation
In a culmination of milestones over the past
year and a half, the EA-18G Growler has
moved to Operational Evaluation (OpEval).
The Growler, replacing the EA-6B Prowler,
has conducted its sea trials, tested
missiles and surpassed more than 1000 flight
hours in the past several months. Full
Story
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10/30/2008 - USN
AARGM Missile Enters Production
NAVAIR’s newest advanced weapon for
destruction of enemy air defenses, AGM-88E,
was recently approved to go into low rate
production, and the NAWCWD Anti-Radiation
Missile (ARM) Technical Project Office (TPO)
played a major role in achieving that
milestone. Full
Story
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10/29/2008 -
Eurofighter Refueled from Airbus A310 MRTT
At the end of October, the test flight
series to obtain certification of the
single-seater and twin-seater Eurofighter
aircraft for air-to-air refuelling from the
Airbus A310 MRTT tanker began at Military
Air Systems (MAS) in Manching. Full
Story
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10/25/2008 - USN
EA-18G Evaluation with VX-9 Continues with
a New Look
Operational evaluation (OPEVAL) continues on
the EA-18G for the USN Air Test and
Evaluation Squadron Nine (VX-9) "Vampires",
based at China Lake NAWS in California. The
unit recently brought its Growlers aboard
USN aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis
(CVN 74) to see what the aircraft can do at
sea. Full
Story
|
10/24/2008 - First
Eurofighter Tranche 2 Capability
Enhancements in Flight Testing
Flight tests for the advanced
capabilities covered by the Phase 1
Enhancement (P1E) programme for Eurofighter
Typhoon Tranche 2 weapon systems have
commenced with today’s first flight of a
Paveway IV on Instrumented Production
Aircraft IPA2 at Alenia Aeronautica’s
facility in Turin, Italy.
Full Story
|
10/23/2008 - F-35A
"AA-1" Completes Initial Testing at
Edwards AFB
The first pre production EMD F-35A Lightning
II fighter "AA-1" has finished all initial
testing at Edwards Air Force Base, CA,
demonstrating that the aircraft, the support
crews, and contractor and military service
personnel are ready for the dramatically
expanded flight testing on the program's
horizon. Full
Story
|
10/22/2008 - Data
Link Solutions Completes Tests of USN
Tactical Radio System
Data Link Solutions and the
U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center have completed
the first flight test of a networking
tactical radio system. The test demonstrated
the system's ability to interoperate with
other communications, situational awareness,
and navigation systems for increased mission
effectiveness and survivability.
Full Story
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10/15/2008 -
NAVAIR Works with Army to Purchase H-72
Lakotas for USNTPS
NavAir is teaming with the US Army to buy
five new H-72 Lakota helicopters for the
United States Naval Test Pilot School. The
helicopter the H-72, will replace is the
Vietnam-era TH-6B Cayuse helicopter used by
the Test Pilot School since the early
1990’s. The youngest of the TPS TH-6’s were
built for the Army in 1968. Full
Story
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10/5/2008 -
Gulfstream to Demonstrate Enhanced Vision
System II on G150 Test Aircraft
Gulfstream Aerospace will
demonstrate its second-generation Enhanced
Vision System (EVS II) on its wide-cabin,
high-speed Gulfstream G150 experimental
flight-test aircraft during the National
Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) 61st
Annual Meeting and Convention.
Full
Story
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10/1/2008 - F-35A
'AA-1' Arrives at Edwards AFB
After a longer than expected wait, F-35A
'AA-1' landed at Edwards Air Force Base in
California on Oct. 1 at 1:30 p.m. The
aircraft was flown from the Lockheed plant
based at Naval Air Station Fort Worth,
Texas. This first F-35A will be used to
perform a series of tests, including
air-starts and noise level data collection.
Full
Story
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9/22/2008 - First
VH-71 Presidential Helicopter Production
Aircraft Takes Flight
The VH-71 presidential helicopter program
achieved another major milestone today when
the first operational pilot production
helicopter (PP-1) completed its maiden
flight at AgustaWestland's facility in
Yeovil, England. Full
Story
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9/10/2008 - Boeing
Completes Mission System Testing for US
AWACS Block 40/45 Upgrade
Team Robins made history Aug.
19 during an afternoon test flight of an
F-15E Strike Eagle. The test flight was like
none other before as the fighter jet
embarked on its first flight using synthetic
fuel.
Full Story
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9/3/2008 - Edwards
F-22 Raptor Performs Aerial Refueling
Using Synthetic Fuel
The F-22 Combined Test Force reached another
milestone as an Edwards F-22 Raptor
performed aerial refueling using a synthetic
fuel -- the first time an Air Force aircraft
refueled mid-air using an alternative jet
engine fuel. Full
Story
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9/3/2008 - Lunar
Landing Hazard Velocity LIDAR Device
Tested at NASA Dryden
An experimental light detection and ranging
(LIDAR) device that has the ability to
measure descent velocity for future
autonomous robotic lunar missions was
flight-tested Aug. 20-22 at NASA's Dryden
Flight Research Center. Full
Story
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9/3/2008 - CRJ1000
NextGen Jetliner Prototype Has Successful
First Flight
Bombardier Aerospace announced today that
the prototype CRJ1000 NextGen jetliner,
serial number 19991, made its successful
inaugural flight from the Bombardier
facility at Mirabel, Québec. Full
Story
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8/29/2008 -
Sikorsky’s UH-60M Upgrade Blackhawk
Helicopter Achieves First Flight
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today successfully
completed the first flight of its UH-60M
Upgrade Blackhawk helicopter. The UH-60M
Upgrade is currently the only fly-by-wire
rotary wing aircraft in flight test
development within the Department of the
Army. Full
Story
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8/27/2008 -
Sikorsky’s X2 Demonstrator Achieves First
Flight
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation today
successfully completed the first flight of
its X2 TECHNOLOGY™ Demonstrator, maneuvering
the prototype aircraft through hover,
forward flight, and a hover turn, in a test
flight that lasted approximately 30 minutes.
Full
Story
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8/21/2008 - 339th
FLTS Makes First Flight in F-15D using
Synthetic Fuel at Robins, AFB
Team Robins made history Aug.
19 during an afternoon test flight of an
F-15E Strike Eagle. The test flight was like
none other before as the fighter jet
embarked on its first flight using synthetic
fuel.
Full Story
|
8/18/2008 - C-5M
Super Galaxy Completes Developmental
Flight Testing
The Lockheed Martin C-5 Reliability
Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP)
flight test team has successfully completed
developmental testing of all three C-5 RERP
test aircraft. Full
Story
|
8/5/2008 - 410th
FLTS "Baja Scorpions" Closes Historic
Chapter
After more than 27 years and 8,000 flight
test hours, the 410th Flight Test Squadron
has finally closed its historic chapter
during an inactivation ceremony Aug. 1 at
the U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, CA,
bringing a final end to the F-117 in the
USAF. Full
Story
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7/17/2008 - F-22
Raptor Performs First Supersonic SDB
Drop
On July 11, the 411th Flight Test Squadron
passed a milestone as an F-22 Raptor
travelling at supersonic speed dropped a
GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb for the first
time. The first supersonic SDB drop was part
of a safe separation test currently being
performed to integrate the bomb with the
F-22. Full
Story
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7/17/2008 - Boeing
Completes Flight of First AEW&C
Aircraft Modified in Turkey
The Boeing Company has successfully
conducted the first flight test of the first
737 Airborne Early Warning and Control
(AEW&C) aircraft modified by Turkish
Aerospace Industries (TAI) in Ankara for
Turkey's Peace Eagle program.
Full
Story
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7/14/2008 - Testing
Studies Global Hawk's Electromagnetic
Profile
The Global Vigilance Combined Test Force
concluded an electromagnetic profile study
for the Global Hawk Block 20 at the
Benefield Anechoic Facility, Edwards AFB
July 3. The three-week study marked the
first time the test force used an entire
Global Hawk aircraft for testing inside the
anechoic facility.
Full
Story
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7/14/2008 - NASA
Evaluates Fiber Optic Technology for
Future Aircraft Efficiency
NASA is evaluating an
advanced, fiber optic-based sensing
technology that could aid development of
active control of an aircraft's wing shape.
Controlling a wing's shape in flight would
allow it to take advantage of aerodynamics
and improve overall aircraft efficiency. Full
Story
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7/14/2008 - Boeing
777 Freighter Makes First Flight
The first Boeing 777 Freighter, the world's
most capable twin-engine cargo airplane,
today successfully took to the sky for the
first time and completed an initial series
of tests during a flight lasting more than
three-and-a-half hours.
Full
Story
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7/11/2008 - NASA
Responds to California Wildfire
Emergency Imaging Request
A remotely piloted aircraft carrying a NASA
sensor flew over much of California earlier
this week, gathering information that will
be used to help fight more than 300
wildfires burning within the state.
Additional flights are planned for next
week. Full
Story
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7/1/2008 - 418th
FLTS and Boeing Upgrade Two C-130
Cockpits
The 418th Flight Test
Squadron at Edwards AFB together with the
Boeing Company are currently conducting
communication, navigation, radar and air
data testing on two C-130 Hercules aircraft
here as part of the Avionics Modernization
Program. Full
Story
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6/24/2008 - Arnold
Engineering Development Center Helps to
Improve the T-38
Arnold Engineering Development Center
recently collaborated with the Air Force
Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force
Base, Calif., to help quantify performance
improvements of a T-38 Talon. The
twin-engine, high-altitude T-38 was the
first world's first supersonic trainer,
originally designed in the 1950s. Full
Story
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6/21/2008 -
Vampires Bring the Growler to Mission
Employment
The Air Test & Evaluation Squadron Nine
(VX-9) "Vampires" have scaled up their
operational evaluation of the new EA-18G
"Growler" in preparation for the type's full
entry into the fleet. The squadron recently
made an appearance at the USAF Weapons
School’s Mission Employment Phase exercise
based at Nellis AFB, flying the majority of
existing EA-18G aircraft built to date.
Full
Story
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6/19/2008 - NASA
and Air Resources Board to Examine
California Air Quality
NASA and scientists from the California Air
Resources Board are conducting a series of
research flights this month that are
examining the atmosphere over the state to
better understand the chemical dynamics of
smog and greenhouse gases. Full
Story
|
6/18/2008 - 3-D
Imaging Helps A-10C Integrate Latest
Technologies
The A-10C Thunderbolt II is undergoing
state-of-the-art 3-D measurement to help the
close-air support fighter jet carry the
latest in smart weapons technology June 9-20
at the King Hangar, Eglin Air Force Base.
Full
Story
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6/17/2008 - STEM
Facility Conducts F-35 Lanyard Risk
Reduction Test
The 46th Test Wing recently lent a hand to
Lockheed Martin Company to perform a risk
reduction and development test of weapon
lanyards for the F-35 System Development and
Demonstration program at the Simulated
Environment for Munitions facility at Eglin
Air Force Base. Full
Story
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6/11/2008 - F-35B
STOVL Stealth Fighter Achieves
Successful First Flight
With test pilot Graham Tomlinson at the
controls, the short takeoff/vertical landing
(STOVL) Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II
streaked into blue Texas skies Wednesday,
marking the first flight of an aircraft that
will provide a combination of capabilities
never before available: stealth, supersonic
speed and STOVL basing flexibility.
Full
Story
|
6/10/2008 - USAF
Test Pilot School Graduates Class 07B
The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot
School class 07B graduated in a ceremony at
Edwards on June 7. The school's 148th class
is the first to receive a Master of Science
in Flight Engineering degree upon completion
of this course. Full
Story
|
6/6/2008 - Navy
Global Hawk Test Team Deploys to Point
Mugu
The Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft
Systems Office (PMA-262) recently deployed
'N-1', the first of the US Navy's two
demonstration RQ-4A Global Hawk unmanned
aircraft, to NAS Point Mugu in California
for continued testing.
Full
Story
|
6/4/2008 - B-1
Sniper Pod Aims to Hit Summer Target
The Edwards Global Power Bomber Combined
Test Force and the 337th Test and Evaluation
Squadron from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas,
combined the operational and developmental
test of a B-1B Lancer to accelerate the
bomber's sniper pod program.
Full
Story
|
5/29/2008 - Successful
First Propulsion Ground Test for F-35B
'BF-01'
The shaft-driven lift fan propulsion system
that will enable the Lockheed Martin F-35B
Lightning II stealth fighter to perform
short takeoffs and vertical landings (STOVL)
operated for the first time in the aircraft
during ground testing on Sunday, May 25. Full
Story
|
5/27/2008 - Lockheed
Successful in First SCALPEL Flight Test
Lockheed Martin successfully
conducted the first SCALPEL weapon system
release in a recent flight test at the Naval
Air Warfare Center Weapons Division China
Lake test range in California. This was the
first in a series of tests as part of the
U.S. Navy/Marine Corps/Lockheed Martin
demonstration flight test program. Full
Story
|
5/21/2008 - Boeing
Flies A160T Hummingbird Unmanned
Rotorcraft for 18 Hours
The Boeing Company successfully flew its
A160T Hummingbird unmanned rotorcraft for
18.7 hours May 14-15, claiming an unofficial
world endurance record for unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs) weighing between 1,102 and
5,511 pounds (500 to 2,500 kilograms).
Full
Story
|
5/21/2008 - X-48B
Blended Wing Body Flight Tests Enter
Second Phase
NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center and The
Boeing Co. are expanding the flight envelope
for the X-48B blended wing body research
aircraft. Flight tests with the 500-pound,
remotely piloted test vehicle are now in a
second phase involving higher speed regimes.
Full
Story
|
5/20/2008 - First
Flight Marks Temporary Runway at Edwards
AFB Operational
As an F-16 Fighting Falcon took off from the
newly built temporary runway here May 19, it
marked the runway's first-ever operational
use. Maj. Gen. David Eichhorn, Air Force
Flight Test Center commander, helmed the
F-16 and performed takeoff and landing
maneuvers on the newly built runway, which
also marked the beginning of the actual
refurbishing of runway 22 and transfer of
responsibility from the contractors to
Edwards. Full
Story
|
5/19/2008 - Second
KC-45 Tanker Airframe Completes Test
Flights
The second aircraft that
Northrop Grumman Corporation has designated
for the U.S. Air Force KC-45 Tanker program
completed its final check flight May 15,
illustrating the rapid production capability
that will allow Northrop Grumman to quickly
replace the aging KC-135 Tanker fleet.
Full
Story
|
5/16/2008 - Last
Stand of the Baja Scorpions
In an ironic twist of fate, the last flying
combat ready F-117 Stealth Fighters in the
US Air Force have been retired, while a few
of the F-117s that spent years testing the
latest new systems to be used in those same
combat aircraft, are still flying.
Full
Story
|
5/15/2008 - NASA
/ Northrop Agreement Opens Door to
Science Investigation
NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center and the
Northrop Grumman Corporation have reached an
agreement that will enable NASA's Science
Mission Directorate to conduct Earth science
research with the Northrop Grumman-developed
RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system.
Full
Story
|
5/13/2008 - Pratt
& Whitney’s PW4000 Advantage70
Engine Begins Flight Testing
Pratt & Whitney’s PW4000
Advantage70 development engine commenced
flight testing on the company’s 747 flying
test bed at its test flight facility in
Plattsburgh, N.Y. The engine, which will
deliver 70,000 pounds of thrust for the A330
aircraft family, is expected to achieve
Federal Aviation Administration
certification in October. Full
Story
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5/9/2008 - NASA
B-52H #025 Makes its Last Flight
NASA's B-52H #025 (61-0025) departed the
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at 10:56
PDT on May 9, for what would be its last
flight. The aircraft was returned to the
USAF by way of Sheppard AFB, TX. There, the
aircraft will be utilized as a ground
maintenance trainer.
Full
Story
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5/6/2008 - YC-15
Prototype Moves to New Home at Edwards
Contractors moved the YC-15 prototype #1
(72-1875) fuselage along Shuttle Rd. at
Edwards Air Force Base April 4, in
preparation for placing it on static
display. The aircraft was returned to
Edwards to be part of the Century Circle
museum annex near the West Gate of the base.
Full
Story
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5/5/2008 - First
Flight Successful for Cessna’s Citation
CJ4
Cessna Aircraft Company, a
Textron Inc. company, completed first flight
of its Citation CJ4 business jet prototype
today. “It was an outstanding first flight,”
said Cessna Senior Engineering Test Pilot
Dan Morris, who flew the aircraft with
Engineering Flight Test Manager Dave
Bonifield as co-pilot. Full
Story
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5/2/2008 - First
Maintainers for F-35 Heading for Test
Sites
The first group of
maintenance crews for the F-35 Lightning II
have successfully completed classroom
instruction and certification training in
preparation for F-35 test-site stand up at
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and Naval
Air Station Patuxent River, Md. Full
Story
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4/25/2008 - Members
of the 339th Flight Test Squadron Ensure
Aircraft are Fit to Fly
For members of the 339th Flight Test
Squadron, their below the radar existence
means a job well done.The mission of the
group is to certify aircraft as worthy to
return to the fight. The squadron is
responsible for conducting flight tests on
the C-130 Hercules, the C-5 Galaxy and F-15
Eagle after program depot maintenance is
completed at the Warner Robins Air Logistics
Center. Full
Story
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4/23/2008 - Saab
Displays New Flying Test Platform for
Gripen
In an event attended by over 700
international guests which was broadcast
‘live’ around the world, the Gripen
Demonstrator (Demo) aircraft was
‘rolled-out’ in a spectacular ceremony in
front of the world’s media.
Full
Story
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4/17/2008 - Pratt
& Whitney to Open New Flight Test
Operations Centre at Montreal-Mirabel
Pratt & Whitney Canada
announced today that it will concentrate its
flight test operations in a new world-class
centre at Montreal-Mirabel International
Airport. The new global hub represents an
investment of about $90 million. Pratt &
Whitney Canada (P&WC) is a United
Technologies Corp. company. Full
Story
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4/3/2008 - Full-scale
Mockup of Orion Crew Module
Arrives at Edwards
Air Force loadmasters oversaw the unloading
of the full-scale Orion abort test crew
module mockup from a Mississippi Air
National Guard C-17A Globemaster III cargo
aircraft here March 28. The Orion crew
vehicle mock-up was being delivered to
NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center here to
undergo preparations for the first
short-range flight test of the spacecraft's
astronaut escape system later this year. Full
Story
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4/3/2008 - Boeing
Successfully Flies Fuel Cell-Powered
Airplane
Boeing announced today that it has, for the
first time in aviation history, flown a
manned airplane powered by hydrogen fuel
cells.The recent milestone is the work of an
engineering team at Boeing Research &
Technology Europe (BR&TE) in Madrid,
with assistance from industry partners in
Austria, France, Germany, Spain, the United
Kingdom and the United States. Full
Story
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3/27/2008 - Boeing
Returns 2nd C-130 AMP Aircraft to
Edwards Air Force Base
The Boeing Company has returned
the second C-130 Avionics Modernization
Program (AMP) aircraft, H2.5, to Edwards Air
Force Base, Calif., for continued testing
and software upgrades.
Full
Story
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3/27/2008 - VX-31
F/A-18 Destroys Target with New AIM-120D
Variant during White Sands Test
A Raytheon Company AIM-120D
Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile
successfully destroyed its target Feb. 13 in
a test engagement of the newest variant of
the combat-proven missile. Full
Story
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3/25/2008 - Global
Hawk RQ-4B 'AF-8' Sets 33-Hour Flight
Endurance Record at Edwards
Northrop Grumman Corporation's
RQ-4 Global Hawk set an endurance record for
a full-scale, operational unmanned aircraft
on Saturday, March 22, 2008, when it
completed a flight of 33.1 hours at
altitudes up to 60,000 feet over Edwards Air
Force Base, Calif. Full
Story
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3/20/2008 - Prototype
YC-17A 'T-1' Reaches 1,000 Flight
Milestone
Edwards own T-1, The Air Force's first test
aircraft for the C-17A Globemaster III,
reached a milestone when it was flown for
its 1,000th flight here March 10. T-1,
produced in 1991, is the first test aircraft
to conduct developmental and experimental
flight tests. Full
Story
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3/20/2008 - Gripen
Successfully Fires Meteor in Sweden
Gripen has conducted a further successful
live firing with the MBDA Meteor air-to-air
missile, proving once again its reliability
as a platform for the integration and
testing of complex future missile systems
for the world’s new generation combat
aircraft. Full
Story
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3/14/2008 - 413th
Flight Test Group Helps Determine when
Aircraft are 'Airworthy'
When it comes to ensuring many of
the Air Force's pilots are safe in the
cockpit, the flight crews of the 413th
Flight Test Group are on the job. Full
Story
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3/13/2008 - F-35A
Succeeds in First Aerial Refueling Test
The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II
successfully completed the first stage of
its airborne refueling tests during the
aircraft’s 34th flight yesterday. Aerial
refueling capability will expand the F-35
operating envelope, enabling longer duration
flights. Full
Story
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3/11/2008 - 418th
FLTS Tests C-130H with NP-2000 Eight
Blade Props
The 418th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards
AFB replaced a C-130H Hercules' four-bladed
propellers with new eight-bladed NP-2000
propellers Feb. 21 in support of the New
York Air National Guard's Operation Deep
Freeze mission to Antarctica. Full
Story
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3/10/2008 - Cessna
SkyCatcher Prototype Completes First
Flight
Cessna Aircraft completed the first flight
of its Model 162 SkyCatcher prototype
Saturday. “The first flight of the
SkyCatcher is a significant step ahead
toward our goal of bringing an affordable
training aircraft to market,” said Jack
Pelton, Cessna’s chairman, president and
CEO. Full
Story
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3/5/2008 - 556th
Test and Evaluation Squadron Activated
at Creech AFB
The 556th Test and Evaluation
Squadron, the US Air Force's first
operational test squadron for unmanned
aerial systems, held an activation ceremony
at Creech AFB March 5. Full
Story
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3/3/2008 - F-117A
#783 Finds Nest at Blackbird Air Park
Volunteers with the 410th Flight Test
Squadron based at U.S. Air Force Plant #42,
Palmdale Airport, moved F-117A #79-10783
from the 410th FLTS, to Blackbird Air Park
on March 3. Blackbird Air Park is located
nearby on the Palmdale airport property. Full
Story
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2/28/2008 - VH-71
Test Helicopter #3 Takes to the Air
Test Vehicle 3, the third
helicopter built for the VH-71 Presidential
Helicopter Replacement Program, made its
initial flight Feb. 27 in Yeovil, England
marking the fourth helicopter to enter
flight test. Full
Story
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2/27/2008 - A320
Completes First Test Flight Powered by
IAE SelectOne Engines
As part of Airbus’ commitment to
offering its customers the most
eco-efficient aircraft and also to driving
down aircraft related maintenance costs, the
Airbus A320 test aircraft successfully
performed the first in a series of test
flights on 26th February, powered for the
first time by International Aero Engines’
new SelectOne standard engine. Full
Story
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2/20/2008 - Battlefield
Airborne Communications Node Testing
Continues
Testing of the Battlefield Airborne
Communications Node (BACN) is continuing
forward. During the month of February,
Bombardier Global Express test aircraft
N901GX has flown test sorties out of NAS
North Island, CA in support of the program.
Full
Story
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2/15/2008 - Saab
Signs New Agreement with UK’s Test
Pilots School
Test pilot students at the renowned Empire
Test Pilots School (ETPS), MOD Boscombe Down
in the United Kingdom, will continue to have
access to fly Sweden´s new generation Gripen
fighter under the recently signed agreement
with Saab. Full
Story
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2/14/2008 - EADS
A330 MRTT Military Transport Completes
Flight Test Phase 1
The first A330 MRTT prototype
MSN747 has landed today at EADS MTAD
facilities in Getafe, Madrid at 12:15h local
time after completing Phase 1 of the flight
testing that has been primarily devoted to
civil certification. EADS MTAD has
officially announced the conclusion of a key
Australian A330 MRTT programme milestone. Full
Story
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2/14/2008 - Geared
Turbofan Demonstrator Engine Completes
Phase I Ground Tests
Pratt & Whitney has
successfully completed Phase I sea-level
performance and acoustic testing on the
full-scale Geared Turbofan demonstrator
engine ahead of schedule. The engine will
now be configured with the flight nacelle
system for Phase II ground testing beginning
in April in preparation for flight testing
on Pratt & Whitney’s 747SP flying test
bed in mid-2008. Full
Story
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2/14/2008 - Successful
Demonstration of New Synthetic Aperture
Radar Capability for F-22
Northrop Grumman Corporation has
successfully demonstrated the capability to
generate high-resolution, in-flight
synthetic aperture radar (SAR) maps using
the AESA (active electronically scanned
array) radar being produced for the U.S. Air
Force's F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft. Full
Story
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2/1/2008 - Edwards
Tests X-51 Scramjet-Waverider Antennas
The Edwards 412th Test Wing Hypersonic
Flight Test Team, Electronic Warfare
Directorate and Boeing began testing on the
X-51 Scramjet-Waverider's antennas at the
Benefield Anechoic Facility here Jan. 28. Full
Story
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2/1/2008 - Airbus
Completes First Test Flight with
Alternative Fuel on Civil Aircraft
An Airbus A380 aircraft has
successfully completed the world’s first
ever flight by a commercial aircraft using a
liquid fuel processed from gas (Gas to
Liquids - GTL) in the first stage of a test
flight programme to evaluate the
environmental impact of alternative fuels in
the airline market. Full
Story
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1/31/2008 - Edwards
Airman Flies High as First Military F-35
Pilot
An Edwards Air Force Base pilot became the
first Air Force and government test pilot to
fly the F-35 Lightning II during a test
sortie at the Lockheed Martin facility, Fort
Woth, TX Jan. 30. Full
Story
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1/29/2008 - Boeing
Completes First KC-767 Tanker Night
Refueling
The Boeing Company made KC-767
program history Jan. 26 when one if its
aircrews successfully transferred fuel from
a KC-767 tanker aircraft to an F-15E at
night -- the first nighttime refueling ever
accomplished on a KC-767. Full
Story
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1/28/2008 - A330
MRTT Flight Test Program Progresses at
Fast Pace
Flight-testing of the A330 MRTT, the first
production aircraft for the Royal Australian
Air Force (RAAF), has continued at a fast
pace and initial handling and performance
evaluation are as predicted. Full
Story
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1/23/2008 - Boeing
Completes Flight of First AEW&C
Wedgetail Modified in Australia
The Boeing Company has conducted a
successful functional check flight of the
first 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control
(AEW&C) aircraft modified in Australia
for Project Wedgetail. Full
Story
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1/21/2008 - Future
Changes at NASA Dryden Flight Research
Center
Some changes are in the works at the NASA
Dryden FRC. Numerous aircraft will have
their base of operations moved to the new
NASA Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility,
located in Palmdale, CA. One noteworthy
aircraft will also be leaving the NASA fleet
altogether. Full
Story
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1/17/2008 - NASA's
SOFIA Completes Closed-Door Test Flight
NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for
Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, has passed a
significant mission milestone. It has
completed the first phase of experimental
flight tests, which confirmed the structural
integrity and performance of the modified
747SP SOFIA aircraft that carries a huge
infrared telescope. Full
Story
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1/17/2008 - USN's
VX-31 Delivers New Night Vision Capability
to Iraq
Two Marines assigned to Air Test
and Evaluation Squadron 31 (VX-31) at NAWCWD
China Lake recently traveled to Iraq to
deliver a new night vision capability to
Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron
(VMFA(AW))-225. The Night Vision Cueing and
Display (NVCD) system provides Joint Helmet
Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) functionality
integrated into night vision devices
providing improved situational awareness for
pilots during night flights. Full
Story
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1/17/2008 - First
Tranche 2 Eurofighter Typhoon Makes Maiden
Flight
The first Tranche 2 Eurofighter Typhoon has
made its first flight at EADS Military Air
Systems’ site in Manching. Instrumented
Production Aircraft Seven (IPA7) was piloted
by EADS Test Pilot Chris Worning. Full
Story
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1/16/2008 - Gripen
Test Fires the IRIS-T Air-to-Air Missile
An important milestone in the integration of
IRIS-T with the Gripen fighter, was achieved
on 8 November 2007 at the Vidsel range in
northern Sweden when Gripen fired the
IRIS-T, within visual range (WVR), missile
with an operational target seeker for the
first time. Full
Story
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1/16/2008 - USAF
82nd ATRS Det 1 Launches First Ever Air
to Ground Missile from Drone
The first-ever launch of an air to
ground missile from a full scale aerial
target drone was completed Jan. 9 by
Detachment 1, 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron
located at Holloman Air Force Base, NM. Full
Story
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1/10/2008 - Presidential
VH-71 Begins U.S. Flight Testing
The first two VH-71 helicopters built for
the President of the United States have
entered the flight test phase with the U.S.
Navy and U.S. Marine Corps at Naval Air
Station Patuxent River, Md. The Navy-owned
test vehicles, TV-2 and TV-5, arrived at NAS
Patuxent River in November and December,
respectively, aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17
cargo plane from AgustaWestland’s facility
in Yeovil, England. Full
Story
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1/8/2008 - Navy
MQ-8B Fire Scout Flight Test Initiated
Using New Ship Control Segment
Northrop Grumman Corporation
initiated the next phase of the Vertical
Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle (VTUAV) MQ-8B Fire Scout development
program with the first flight test using a
Test and Training Control Segment. Full
Story
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1/4/2008 - Global
Hawk Block 30 Arrives at Edwards for ASIP
Testing
The 452nd Flight Test Squadron here is
scheduled to begin a series of developmental
flight tests on the RQ-4 Global Hawk Block
30 in February. The aircraft arrived in
Edwards on a ferry flight Nov. 16 from the
Northrop Grumman Palmdale, CA facility. Full
Story
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