If you walk into his home office you'll find a letter opener made from a piece of molten aluminum. Etched on its handle is the word "Forgiveness." The long-ago-cooled metal is a fragment of what was once the second B-1 bomber prototype. Known as "Ship-2," it was one of the four original A-model B-1s from Rockwell International that preceded the 100 B-1B Lancers built between 1983 and 1988, just 45 of which remain in service.
The letter opener is a tangible reminder of the August, 29, 1984 accident that instantly made national news on TV and in newspapers. It's also emblematic of compassion Reynolds didn't expect in the wake of the tragic incident.
"I thought it was game over"
"I thought we had ejected too low," Reynolds remembers. "I was at peace with it. The ground was coming up fast!" It was a beautiful Wednesday morning.
Then Maj. Dick Reynolds was pilot-in-command in Ship-2's left seat with Rockwell International's senior engineering test pilot Doug Benefield in the copilot's seat and flight engineer Captain Otto Waniczek seated at one of the two aircrew stations amid flight test instruments behind them.
Just to the north of Edwards AFB along an east-west corridor that follows the contour of Cords Road, the aircrew was setting up to execute the fifth test point sequence of the day's test flight, performing air minimum control speed, or Vmca, tests.
The B-1's ability to sweep its wings from 67.5 degrees aft to 15 degrees forward can significantly alter its center of gravity depending on sweep. Consequently, the bomber has a wide range of CG points at which it is in balanced flight-and even more where it is out of balance-depending on aerodynamic configuration, weight, airspeed, and other factors.
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Keeping 'em Flying!- The new generation of warbird pilots, restorers and mechanics
The new generation of warbird pilots, restorers and mechanics. Nearly 80 years after the end of World War II, the fighters, bombers, and trainers that defended freedom continue to enthrall and inspire audiences at airshows, thanks to generations of warbird pilots, maintainers, restoration specialists and collectors. In our September, 2022 issue we introduced you to the young warbird pilots, maintainers and restorers who are already beginning to displace more "experienced" warbird fliers and fixers.
The Corsair Maker- Bringing the Vought Corsair to the fleet was a daunting challenge that spanned nearly three years.
When the first production Corsairs exited the Stratford factory in June 1942, Guyton, as seen here, was tapped to manage the flight and production test program. Armament was improved to six wing-mounted .50s, displacing the wing fuel tanks now placed forward of the cockpit which necessarily was moved rearward by 32 inches. Overall length was increased, armor plate added, landing, arresting and tail gear improved, aileron control enhanced, and a new version of the R2800 engine was incorporated. But those significant improvements unearthed numerous idiosyncrasies that would take an extended period to make the Corsair acceptable for carrier operations
STARFIRES Over Korea
F-94 pilots tangle with MiGs
Training Mission
BY THE TIME THIS TRAINING SCENE WAS RECORDED in Canne, Italy, in July 1944, Allied Yugoslavian airmen had several years of experience working side by side with the RAF.
KC-46A PEGASUS
Next generation aerial refueler
"SATAN'S ANGELS" ACE - Tales from a P-38 pilot in the South Pacific
\"AS A KID GROWING UP on the bow of my father's tugboat, hauling oil from Seattle to Alaska, I had a lot of time on my hands.
WACO YKC - Stunning and Ultra Rare Golden Age Cabin Flier
BETWEEN THE IMPLEMENTATION of the Air Commerce Act of 1926 and December 31, 1948, all U.S. registered flying machines sported an N-number, much as they do today, the \"N\" being an internationally recognized identifier for the United States. During that period, however, an additional letter-identifier followed the \"N.\" Depending on their category, they were registered in the NC (Commercial), NG (Glider), NL (Limited), NR (Restricted, usually meaning race airplanes), NS (State government), and, finally, NX (experimental).
BADER'S HURRICANES
Double amputee fighter ace Douglas Bader and his Battle of Britain Hurricanes
Scourge of the Allied Fighters
IT HAD TO BE THE MOST HELPLESS FEELING in the world: you're at 25,000 feet over Europe knowing that your primary function is to drop bombs-or flying escort for the bombers while being a slow-moving target for some of the world's finest shooters. However, you have John Browning's marvelous .50 caliber invention to give some degree of protection. Unfortunately, you're absolutely helpless against flak. Piloting and gunnery skills play no role in a game where sheer chance makes life and death decisions. For that reason, the Krupp 88 mm Flak 18/36/37 AA cannon could be considered WW II's ultimate stealth fighter. You never saw it coming.
ZERO MYTH, MYSTERY, AND FACT
A test pilot compares the A6M5 Zero to U.S. fighters
