The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School (TPS) graduated the following notable alumni who made significant contributions to the aerospace field. The school's mission is to produce experimental test pilots, flight test engineers, and flight test navigators to lead and conduct test and evaluation of aerospace weapon systems.[1] The school was established on September 9, 1944, as the Flight Test Training Unit at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB) in Dayton, Ohio.[2] To take advantage of the uncongested skies and superb flying weather, the school was moved on February 4, 1951, to its present location at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert of Southern California.[2] Edwards AFB is the home of the Air Force Test Center and has been an integral part of flight testing since June 25, 1951.[3]
Between 1962 and 1972, the Test Pilot School expanded its role to include astronaut training for military test pilots.[4] Thirty-seven TPS graduates of this era were selected for the U.S. space program, and twenty-six went on to earn astronaut's wings by flying in the X-15, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs.[5] Although the school no longer trains astronauts, many TPS graduates since 1972 have been selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for duties in space. The school encourages applications from civilians, personnel from other U.S. military services, and individuals from foreign countries.[6] An exchange program allows selected students to attend other test pilot schools including the United States Naval Test Pilot School, the United Kingdom's Empire Test Pilots' School, and France's EPNER.[7]
For individuals who have served in the armed forces. The rank shown is current at the time this list was created and is subject to change.
"n/a"
For civilians who have not served in the armed forces and therefore do not have military rank.
Class
Year/Letter
The year and order in which a class started. For example, 07A was the first of two classes to start in 2007.[10]
Roman Numeral
Four Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS) classes designated I, II, III, and IV, that prepared students for crewed spaceflight operations. These classes were dropped when the USAF lost its crewed spaceflight mission.[11]
MOL
Classes to train military astronauts of the Manned Orbital Laboratory (MOL) program. MOL was cancelled in 1969 before any of the astronauts went into space.[12]
AFIT
The USAF TPS selects up to eight students per year to attend the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. These individuals attend 15 months of class work and thesis preparation prior to completing the USAF TPS curriculum.[7]
"n/a"
For faculty who taught at USAF TPS but were never students of the school.
Tested over twenty German and Japanese aircraft during World War II. First military pilot to fly XP-86. First jet air race. First transport of air mail by jet
Flew chase during the Mach one flight. Named "the greatest stick-and-rudder man who ever lived" by Jimmy Doolittle. Noted air show pilot in Shrike Commander and P-51
Author of five aviation books, three on flight testing including "Contrails Over the Mojave," one on combat in Vietnam and one on a test pilot building a church.
↑Young, J. Milestones in Aerospace History at Edwards AFB. No page numbers in this document; See date of September 27, 1956.
↑"Ascani Biography". Gathering of Eagles. Montgomery, Alabama: Gathering of Eagles Foundation. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
↑"Bong Biography". Air Force Link. United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2008-05-20. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
↑*Rogers, Paul (May 25, 2006). "Keynote Speaker, James E. Brown III". U-Web Student Web Service. Santa Barbara, California: University of California Santa Barbara. Archived from the original on December 9, 2007. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
↑"Cardenas Biography". Aerospace Walk of Honor. City of Lancaster, California. Archived from the original on 2014-05-27. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
↑"Kenneth O. Chilstrom". P-47 Thunderbolt Pilots Association. Yulee, Florida: Logic Mountain LLC. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
↑"Stephens Biography". Aerospace Walk of Honor. City of Lancaster, California. Archived from the original on 2014-05-27. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
↑"Up From Kitty Hawk". Air Force Magazine Online. Air Force Association. p. No page numbers in this document; See date of February 27, 1947. Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
↑"Townsend Biography". Aerospace Walk of Honor. City of Lancaster, California. Archived from the original on 2014-05-27. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
↑"Tymczyszyn Biography". Aerospace Walk of Honor. City of Lancaster, California. Archived from the original on 2014-05-27. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
↑"Yeager Biography". Air Force Link. United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2008-07-09. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
Marrett, George J. (2008). Contrails Over the Mojave: The Golden Age of Jet Flight Testing at Edwards Air Force Base. Naval Institute Press. ISBN978-1-59114-511-0.
USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. Privately Published. 1994.
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