Quote:
Originally Posted by Lady Jane
|
In 1947, just after my birth, my father reported to the U.S. Naval Air Test Center for Test Pilot School and subsequent assignment in testing aircraft. One of the first items of business: Check out in that new-fangled Bell P-59B on loan from the USAAF. He ended up flying a number of jets during his three-year tour of duty there: Grumman F9F Panther, McDonnell FH Phantom and F2H Banshee, Lockheed TO-1 Shooting Star (again, an Air Force F-80C aircraft bought by the Navy in small numbers.) As an experienced fighter pilot, he must've enjoyed checking out as well in the North American PBJ (B-25) and even the four-engined Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer. Nowadays a test pilot has to go through rigorous ground and simulator training in order to fly a new aircraft; in those days it was "spend a few minutes looking over the manual and have Bob over there check you out in the cockpit." He must've had a ball!