Page 10 - Aerotech News Edwards History Edition September 2023

The 1980s and 1990s
Air Force photographs
On July 4, 1982, the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia landed on the main runway in front of President Ronald and Mrs. Nancy Reagan and some 500,000 visitors and guests. After the shuttle’s fourth orbital flight was its first landing on a concrete runway and marked the end of its formal flight test program. The space vehicle was flown by Navy Capt. Thomas K. Mattingly II (U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School Class 65B) and Col. Henry W. Hartsfield (TPS Class 64C). On this flight (STS-4), the Columbia established a U.S. record altitude for spacecraft in a circular orbit.
July 20, 1982 - The first flight of the F-16XL took place. General Dynamics modified a FSD F-16 to answer a U.S. Air Force requirement for a dual-role, longer-range fighter to support future air combat requirements. The F-16XL featured a cambered, cranked-delta wing with a sharp leading- edge sweep with twice the area of the original wing.
NASA photograph
On Oct. 14, 1984, the Grumman X-29A made its first flight, piloted by company test pilot Charles A. Sewell. This was the first time in more than a decade that an X-series research plane got underway at Edwards.
On Oct. 30, 1991, a Lockheed YF- 22A made the first flight in the initial Engineering & Manufacturing and Development (EMD) Phase test program, two weeks ahead of schedule.
On Nov. 2, 1990, the Vought YA- 7F Strikefighter Combined Test Force completed its test program, flying the two prototype aircraft on 184 sorties totaling 315 flight hours. The program was cancelled with only two aircraft built.
The McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster on its first flight heading from Long Beach, Calif., to Edwards Sept. 15, 1991.
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