Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, Feb. 21, 2019

EDWARDS, from 2
to penetrate modern air defenses and and Cyber Conference on Sept. 16, information/sensor management, high collaborative effort between the Air and/or teams that accomplished the
hold any target at risk globally. 2019 in National Harbor, Md. angle of attack flight characteristics, Force, the F-35 Joint Program Office, greatest achievements in aeronautics
The Raider is a long-range strike That carries on a tradition of excel- night operations and transferable air- NASA, Lockheed Martin and the De- or astronautics in the United States.
bomber able to conduct a range of lence established July 17, 1989 when to-air and air-to-ground skills. fense Safety Oversight Council. Lt. Col. Tucker Hamilton, former
critical missions. This aircraft will the B-2 Spirit, the world’s first stealth “The T-7A will be the staple of a Team members received the 2018
play an important role in enabling the bomber, flew from Northrop Grum- new generation of aircraft,” Donovan Robert J. Collier Trophy during a pre- 461st Flight Test Squadron command-
Air Force to function in a future high- man’s production facility at Plant 42 said. It offers advanced capabilities sentation ceremony on June 13, 2019 er and F-35 Integrated Test Force di-
end threat environment with the capa- to Edwards for developmental testing, for training tomorrow’s pilots on data in Washington for the development rector, said, “We saw a need to imple-
bility to launch from the continental Donovan said. links, simulated radar, smart weap- and testing of the Automatic Ground ment Auto CAS on F-16s years ago.
United States and deliver strikes any- The newly advanced trainer air- ons, defensive management systems, Collision Avoidance System. The team came together, proved the
where in the world. craft, the T-X, has officially been as well as synthetic training capabili- technology, advocated it, and got it
The ability to divest old capabilities named the T-7A Red Hawk, Dono- ties, he noted. This award has been bestowed for
and build new is paramount and mod- van announced at the Air, Space and The aircraft features twin tails, more than a century to individuals into F-16s.”
ernization remains a priority for the Cyber Conference. slats and big leading-edge root ex-
Air Force in its mission of defending Donovan was joined on stage by tensions that provide deft handling at
against existing and emerging threats, an original Tuskegee Airman, Col. low speeds, allowing it to fly in a way
according to Air Force officials. Charles McGee, who flew more than more suited to real world demands.
Northrop Grumman in Melbourne, 400 combat missions in World War II, The single engine generates nearly
Fla., designed and developed the B-21 Korea and Vietnam. Several members three times more thrust than dual en-
Raider. The testing program at Ed- of the East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee gines of the T38C Talon, which it is
wards will provide timely, objective Airmen attended the conference. replacing.
and accurate information to decision- The name Red Hawk honors the
makers. legacy of Tuskegee Airmen, Donovan Team Edwards honored with
The first flight of the Raider will go told the crowd. Collier Trophy
from Palmdale to Edwards, said Mat- The T-7A Red Hawk, manufactured Edwards received the highest avia-
thew Donovan, Acting Secretary of by Boeing, provides the capability to tion award last year — the Collier
the Air Force, when he spoke at the prepare pilots for 5th generation fight- Trophy, Casem said.
Air Force Association’s Air, Space ers, including high-G environments, That was for testing the F-35A, a

Air Force photograph
On Jan. 19, 2020, a KC-135 Stratotanker and three F-16 Fighting Falcons, all
from Edwards Air Force Base, flew over Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.,
before the NFC championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and
the Green Bay Packers. Levi Stadium is home to the 49ers. The tanker was
from the 418th Flight Test Squadron, and the F-16s from the 416th FLTS. San
Francisco went on to beat the Packers, 37-20.

Test Wing gets new leader

Boeing photograph
The Boeing-built T-7A Red Hawk, the new advanced pilot training system for the U.S. Air Force, will soon begin flight
testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The Red Hawk, and its red tail, pay tribute to the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.
Air Force photograph by Giancarlo Casem
More than 200 Air The 412th Test Wing’s new commander, Col. Matthew Higer, assumes
Force Test Pilot command of the Wing by receiving the unit guidon from Maj. Gen.
School alumni, Christopher Azzano, Air Force Test Center Commander, during the Wing’s
their families and Change of Command Ceremony at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Feb.
friends attend 5, 2020.
the TPS 75th
Anniversary Col. Matthew Higer assumed command of the 412th Test Wing at a Feb.
dinner at Edwards 5, 2020, change of command ceremony. Higer replaced Brig. Gen. E. John
Air Force Base, Teichert.
Calif., Sept. 21, “It is also an honor to be selected to command the wing that has the
2019.
sacred American mission of teaching test fundamentals, like world-class
risk management and adaptive test solutions to the next generation of test
professionals,” Col. Matthew Higer said. “To the members of the 412th Test
Wing … it is truly an honor to be your commander. Our nation has never
needed us more, and I am beyond description excited to be your biggest fan
and supporter.”
Higer is a former Air Force Test Pilot School Commandant at Edwards.
He assumes command of a Wing of more than 8,000 personnel in the de-
velopmental test and evaluation of the F-35, KC-46, F-22, F-16, B-1, B-2,
B-52, C-17, C-130, KC-135, Global Hawk, joint remotely piloted aircraft and
emerging technologies. Additionally, Col. Higer is now the installation com-
mander responsible for operating the base and supporting more than 11,000
active duty, reserve, and civil service and defense contractors at Edwards,
Air Force photograph by Jenna Romo the second largest base in the Air Force.

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