Page 5 - Aerotech News and Review, April 29, 2022

CARDENAS, from 4
“He absolutely adored the flying wing design so much that up until his final day’s he wore a leather jacket with a painted flying wing on the back of it,” Cardenas explained “That was his baby.”
His remarkable contributions to the design of the flying wing is what lead to the 412th Test Wing’s determination that only one air- craft would be suitable for a final flyby, the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit. While a typical B-2 flyby is a rare appearance in itself, this flyby marked the first time current active duty test pilots of the 419th
Flight Test Squadron performed a public flyover in the Edwards based B-2 aircraft. Pilots and maintainers of the 419th considered it a fitting tribute for the flight test community.
“It was inspiring to pay tribute to General Cardenas in the aircraft he helped inspire so many years ago. The B-2 test community is a close family, and his impact lives on through everything we do today” noted Maj. Taylor Vantiger, test pi- lot and B-2 flight commander for the 419th Flight Test Squadron.
While the technology has changed drastically, the YB-49 and B-2 share
an identical wingspan, a testament to the original pioneering design Brig. Gen. Cardenas helped test.
“To see the B-2 soar over today’s ceremony, it truly felt like my father
was flying over all of us one last time. I can’t describe the feeling we felt as it roared over,” noted Carde- nas. “Nothing happens without the dedication and efforts of so many.
To see how many people my father impacted across the community, is heartwarming. I truly hope his jour- ney shows that you can achieve any- thing if you focus.”
Marine Corps photograph by Cpl. Raynaldo Ramos
Air Force photograph by Chase Kohler
Above: A B-2 Spirit, the Spirit of Pennsylvania, from the 419th Flight Test Squadron, returns to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., after conducting a flyover during funeral services for the late Brig. Gen. Robert “Bob” Cardenas, March 31, 2022. Left: A YB-49, flies over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Bob Cardenas served as chief test pilot for the YB-49 program.
The March Air Force Base Honor Guard lays retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert Cardenas to rest at the Miramar National Cemetery, San Diego, Calif., March 31, 2022. Cardenas was born March 10, 1920, and passed away March 10, 2022.
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