NASA HIGH RANGE -- AREA 51 - BATTLEFIELDS OF THE COLD WAR NEVADA - THE BATTLE BORN STATE

PETER MERLIN

Over the years, numerous books and articles have been written about the Blackbirds, but few give more than a brief description of the YF-12 and its role as a research aircraft. In this monograph, Merlin briefly describes the origins of the Blackbird family of aircraft and how NASA became involved with them. Each of the following chapters then describes a facet of the NASA/USAF YF-12 research program in detail. This monograph would not have

The Smell of Kerosene

A Test Pilot’s Odyssey

By Donald L. Mallick

with Peter W. Merlin

NASA SP 2003-4108

Hardbound w/dust jacket, 252 pages, 70 B&W photos

 The Smell of Kerosene tells the dramatic story of a NASA research pilot who logged over 11,000 flight hours in more than 125 types of aircraft. Donald Mallick gives the reader fascinating first-hand descriptions of his early naval flight training, carrier operations, and his research flying career with NASA and its predecessor agency, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).

Mallick joined the NACA as a research pilot at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory at Hampton, Virginia, where he flew modified helicopters and jets, and witnessed the NACA’s evolution into the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

After transferring to the NASA Flight Research Center (now NASA Dryden Flight Research Center) at Edwards, California, he became involved with projects that further pushed the boundaries of aerospace technology. These included the giant delta-winged XB-70 supersonic research airplane, the wingless M2-F1 lifting body vehicle, and the triple-sonic YF-12 Blackbird. Mallick also test flew the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) and helped develop techniques used in training astronauts to land on the Moon.

Fans of the Lockheed Blackbirds will not want to miss Chapter 9, a 32-page inside look at YF-12A and SR-71 flight operations from the pilot’s seat.

Spin Doctor
Dick Thomas flew high-risk maneuvers and unique testbeds
By Peter W. Merlin
June 2006

Richard G. "Dick" Thomas, best known for test flying TACIT BLUE at Area 51 in the 1980s has died. He passed away June 19, 2006, following a long struggle with Parkinson's disease.

Born April 2, 1930, in Chautuaqua, N.Y., Thomas first flew in an open cockpit Stearman biplane at Parks College, St. Louis University, where he studied engineering. A graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps program he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Foce. He earned his wings in 1952 when he completed primary flight training in the T-6 at Marana Air Base, Ariz. In 1953 he completed basic flight training at James Connally Air Force Base at Waco, TX. After transitioning to jets in the T-33 he flew the F-80C and completed his service in 1956.

He left the regular Air Force for a flight test job with Beech Aircraft in Wichita, KS. He conducted production flight testing of nearly all Beechcraft products including the Model 18, Model 35 Bonanza, Model 50, and King Air. He also joined the Kansas Air National Guard as a member of the 127th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and flew the F-86D and F-100D until 1961.

In 1958, he went to work for Boeing where he tested the ERB-47 and B-52. He conducted flutter tests in the B-52H with Skybolt missiles attached to wing pylons, and helped develop a maximum separation maneuver for the release of nuclear weapons from an altitude of 55,000 feet. In 1962, the company sent him to U.S. Navy Test Pilot School where he graduated as a member of Class 31.

Thomas left Boeing for Northrop in 1963 and served as test pilot for the T-38 and all models of the F-5. During 107 spin tests he developed ways to recover from end-over-end tumbles. His hazardous high-angle-of-attack stall and spin testing in the F-5 established procedures now followed by fighter pilots around the world. He also flew the X-21 laminar flow control testbed aircraft.

In September 1969, as part of the 6th National Championship Air Races, he participated in the 1,667-mile Harold's Club Transcontinental Dash from Milwaukee, WI, to Reno, Nev., flying a World War II vintage F4U Corsair.

In 1977 and 1978, Thomas spent time in Madrid, Spain, helping the Spanish Air Force flight test the CASA C-101 trainer aircraft. He carried out a complete stability and control and spin-testing program despite the fact that the airplane lacked a spin recovery chute.

As Northrop chief test pilot, Thomas led the flight-testing of TACIT BLUE, a one-of-a-kind demonstrator. He flew the first flight of TACIT BLUE at Groom Lake, Nevada, on 5 February 1982 and piloted 70 of the airplane's 135 flights. According to the U.S. Air Force, TACIT BLUE was one of the most successful high-technology demonstrator programs ever conducted. It had a direct influence on the design of the B-2 stealth bomber including development of the flight control system, low observables shaping and materials, propulsion installation, and electronic systems. Carried out in total secrecy, the TACIT BLUE program was not declassified until 1996 when the airplane was publicly unveiled at the U.S. Air Force Museum (now National Museum of the U.S. Air Force) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Thomas stopped flying in 1986, but continued to work on the B-2 program, developing flying techniques in the simulator before the first flight. He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and received the Iven C. Kincheloe Award in 1996 (retroactive to 1982) for his work with TACIT BLUE. He retired from Northrop Grumman in 2000. In 2002 he was named a Pioneer of Stealth. Thomas was honored at the Flight Test Historical Foundation's Gathering of Eagles in 2004 and inducted into the Lancaster Aerospace Walk of Honor in 2005. During his career he logged 8,000 hours flying more than 116 different aircraft.