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Flight Testing at Edwards: Flight Test Engineers' Stories 1946-1975 Paperback – January 1, 1996

by Fred Stoliker (Editor), Bob Hoey (Editor), Johnny Armstrong (Editor),

4.7 9 ratings

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Dedication by Chuck Yeager.

The time period from the end of World War II to the mid 1970s is considered the golden age of flight test. With war's end, America found itself with a large supply of young, experienced pilots, a bustling manufacturing capability, a robust economy, and a talented cadre of test engineers who were eager to push the known limits of flight. After the sound barrier was broken in the fall of 1947, the momentum of aviation progress was unstoppable. Year after year, model after model, the industry made huge technological leaps forward, often above the dry lakebeds of Edwards Air Force Base.

The hustle and bustle -- and occasionaly tragedy -- of those go-go years wrought a camaraderie among the flight test engineers at Edwards lasting nearly half a century. Now, for the first time, those flight test engineers have authored the touching, funny, poignant, and personal stories behind this exciting period. These stories explore the human side of technology, where real people laugh, cry, admire each other's remarkable achievements, and -- sadly -- mourn each other's losses. It is a fascinating insider's look into one of aviation's secret worlds -- that of the flight test engineer.

Print length

262 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Flight Test Historical Found
Publication date

January 1, 1996
ISBN-10

0971370206
ISBN-13

978-0971370203
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Flight Test Historical Found (January 1, 1996)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 262 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0971370206
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0971370203
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces

Best Sellers Rank: #2,731,936 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.7 9 ratings

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William H. Mason

Lots of lessons learned from the flight test guys. ...

Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2015

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Lots of lessons learned from the flight test guys. Typically they don't write papers that are accessible to students. This is a compilation of stories that are 2 or 3 pages long. You can pick and choose the ones that are of interest.

One person found this helpful

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Keith Svendsen

A nice collection of flight test anecdotes

Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2017

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A nice collection of flight test anecdotes. Could use a bit more polish, but then what would you expect from a collection of engineers as writers? Some of the anecdotes are just that. I wish they had more of a description of the end contributions or the rationales for some of the events. As a retired flight test engineer from the same stable I can relate though.

2 people found this helpful

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Matthew Noble

Fun, interesting

Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2015

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Fun, interesting, and informative read. As a younger engineer who has worked out of Edward's a bit it was great to read stories and insights from the pilots and engineers who worked there in the early years of Flight Testing at EAFB.

3 people found this helpful

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W. Brandt

Amazing stories spanning 2 decades of planes as varied as the F4 Phantom to the B36

Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2012

I have to say I haven't read my copy for 3-4 years - will start it again tonight. I think it is that interesting.

There are a couple of dozen (I haven't counted them specifically) but lots - of stories - most by the test pilots themselves - of problems they had on their planes - some famous - some not so famous. The B58 Hustler - the first supersonic bomber - is discussed along with the X15 and the B36.

Even the C133 - a plane from Douglas that looked a bit like a C130 on steroids - had a nasty tendency top spin - while in service - and this plane is discussed - with a solution.

If you like aviation I can't see how you can't enjoy this book. I thought it was only available at the Edwards AFB Museum but here we are...

4 people found this helpful

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Angelo Giak

Interesting Stories!!

Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2019

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A very useful set of first person accounts about flight testing and flight test operations.
A must read for aviation enthusiasts.

One person found this helpful

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J Cook