29 April 1949 – During WWII a need was discovered for a “parasite fighter” – a jet fighter to protect bombers from hostile intercept aircraft. Pilot fatigue from P-41 and P-51 pilots who were protecting Boeing B-17’s, B-24’s, and Boeing B-29’s was a real problem. Aerial refueling hadn’t been perfected and these interceptors couldn’t match
2 September 1966 – A USN Grumman F-11A Tiger, BuNo 141764, of the Blue Angels aerobatic team, Blue Angel 5, crashes on the shore of Lake Ontario during the International Air Exhibition at Toronto, Canada. The pilot, Lieutenant Commander Richard “Dick” Oliver, 31 years old, of Fort Mill, South Carolina, is killed. Coming out of […]
Today in History – September 2, 1966 – Blue Angels lose F-11A Angel 5. Read More »
1 September 1952 – On that day, several tornados swept across Carswell AFB, TX. “As told by Dennis R. Jenkins and Don Pyeatt in their book Cold War Peacemaker: The Story of Cowtown and the Convair B-36, on Labor Day, Sep. 1, 1952, many of the base personnel and flight crews had the long weekend
30 August 1982: Northrop test pilot Russell J. Scott made the first flight of the F-5G Tigershark prototype, N4416T, (Northrop serial number GG.1001) at Edwards Air Force Base, California. During the 40 minute flight the Tigershark, which would be re-designated F-20A two months later, reached an altitude of 40,000 feet and speed of Mach 1.04.
Today in History – August 31, 1982 – First flight of the F-5G “Tigershark” prototype Read More »