Page 6 - Aerotech News and Review, June 25, 2021

National Test Pilot School marks 40 years

SAAB, or their off-cycle Performance continued to adapt to and lead in the mander, an instructor in Night Vision,
and Flying Qualities Course, NTPS is modernization of flight test training. Crew Resource Management, and Risk
training the aerospace testers and lead- Evolving test techniques, enhanced sys- Management as well as an Aviation Safe-
ers of the future. tems training, integration of UAV cur- ty Officer. With nearly a decade of flight
April 29, 2021, marked the 40th an- riculum, and accreditation are examples test experience Roscoe will be a great ad-
niversary of the school; that’s 40 years of of the school’s commitment to its mis- dition to the NTPS instructor team.
providing flight test training to test pilots sion to advance flight test competency, NTPS also welcomed the newest flight
and flight test engineers from all around improve flight test and aviation safety, test instructor, Andrea Pingitore.
the world. and enhance the aerospace profession Pingitore comes to us with 23 years
The 40th anniversary painting, by Te- worldwide. of operational and flight test experience
hachapi’s own aviation artist Mark Pes- in the Italian Navy. As a former com-
by Cathy Hansen Mojave Air and Space Port. tana, called “Changing of the Guard,” New flight instructors at NTPS mander, test pilot instructor, and test pilot
special to Aerotech News The NTPS is the world’s Test Pilot depicts the EC-145 taking the lead in NTPS has recently welcomed two new at the Italian Navy Test and Evaluation
School. Whether it’s their Operational helicopter flight test training at NTPS members to its team. Center, he brings significant naval rota-
There’s been a lot of activity recently Test and Evaluation Course for the from the UH-1. Flight Test Instructor, Dennis “Ros- ry wing flight test experience to NTPS.
at the National Test Pilot School at the U.S. Space Force, a bespoke course for The other aircraft depicted on the coe” Rippy comes to the school from Trained in the Italian Navy Aviation
ramp and in the pattern are also NTPS industry and was formerly the chief test Safety Command Course and holding
aircraft. pilot at the Point Mugu Sea Test Range. multiple Master’s Degrees, Pingitore is
There has been tremendous change While in the U.S. Navy, Rippy was an a welcome addition to the NTPS Instruc-
over the past 40 years as NTPS has F/A-18 Strike and Rescue Mission Com- tor Team.

Courtesy photograph Courtesy photograph
Dennis “Roscoe” Rippy Andrea Pingitore

Test Center JAG hosts Flight Test Museum tour

Air Force Test Center
Judge Advocate
General’s office hosted
local community
members during a
tour of the Air Force
Flight Test Museum
at Edwards Air Force
Base, Calif., on June
11, 2021. The Air
Force Flight Test
Museum at Edwards is
open 10 a.m.-1 p.m.,
Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday to
people with base
access.

George Welsh, Flight Test Museum director, speaks to a group of local community
members at a storage hangar at North Edwards on June 11, 2021.
Air Force photographs by Staff Sgt. Tabatha Arellano
Col. Oren Leff, George Welsh, Flight Test Museum
Air Force Test director, speaks to a group of local
Center Staff Judge community members at Pancho
Advocate, speaks Barnes Happy Bottom Riding Club
to a group of ruins at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.,
local community on June 11, 2021. The Happy Bottom
members during Riding Club was built by Florence
a tour at Edwards “Pancho” Barnes, the first female stunt
Air Force Base, pilot in Hollywood.
Calif., on June 11,
2021. The group
visited various
popular locations
on the base that
make up the
history of how the
base started.

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