History 410th Flight Test Squadron

1 history

1.1 b-1b lancer testing
1.2 f-117a testing

1.2.1 groom lake/area 51
1.2.2 palmdale


1.3 heraldry
1.4 lineage
1.5 assignments
1.6 stations
1.7 aircraft

history
b-1b lancer testing

on 2 october 1981, president ronald reagan announced strategic modernization program (smp), key feature of procurement of 100 long-range combat aircraft (lrca). lrca later designated b-1b lancer.

the first b-1b (82-0001) assembled largely hand , incorporated several sub-assemblies of no 5 b-1a, has been under construction when b-1a program cancelled in 1977 president jimmy carter. rolled out rockwell international assembly plant @ plant 42, palmdale, california on 4 september 1984. flew first time on 31 october 1984, crewed rockwell test pilots. 3-hour, 20-minute flight ended landing @ edwards afb, california. second aircraft delivered on 7 july 1985. b-1b declared ready delivery strategic air command (sac) barely 8 months after first flight.

the initial b-1b assignment 4018th combat crew training squadron @ dyess afb, texas, activated on march 15, 1985. first operational squadron 337th bombardment squadron. 100th , last production aircraft delivered air force on 2 may 1988. @ edwards afb, air force systems command formed , activated 6510th test squadron on 10 march 1989 provide operational testing of b-1b weapons systems, software , components.

when aircraft reached operational squadrons, many shortcomings discovered. testing of modifications 6510th ts included modifications of low-altitude range of aircraft, discovered short of proposed maximum un-refueled range of 7455 miles. modifications increased range of aircraft 1,300 nautical miles on 3,000. other modifications tested problems terrain-following radar system, defensive avionics systems, fuel leaks, central integrated test system, , f101 engine turbofan blade failures, caused grounding of aircraft in december 1990.

b-1 mission transferred 419th flight test squadron on 1 july 1991 , squadron ceased operations, remained active air force systems command organization.

f-117a testing
groom lake/area 51

in 1978, preliminary testing of have blue stealth aircraft completed, , william perry, under-secretary of defense research , engineering in carter administration, urged air force apply technology operational aircraft. during november 1978, lockheed awarded go-ahead contract begin full-scale development of project. program classified top secret/sensitive compartmented information (ts/sci) (i.e., black project ), , code name senior trend applied it. in 1980, senior trend joint (later combined) test force. (detachment 2, r unit, 4450th tactical group) established @ detachment 3, air force flight test center consisting of combination of lockheed , usaf personnel acceptance test squadron newly manufactured aircraft. reportedly, after finding large scorpion in offices, testing team adopted mascot , dubbed baja scorpions , scorpion symbol became symbol of f-117a testing.

in june 1981, first senior trend test aircraft (f-117 79-10780) (fsd-1) delivered testing. deliveries of f-117 aircraft groom lake made c-5 galaxy @ night, aircraft offloaded , moved indoors hangar final re-assembly. on 18 june 1981 first successful flight made lockheed test pilot. during mid-1981 , 1982, 10781 (fsd-2), 10782 (fsd-3), 10783 (fsd-4) , 10784 (fsd-5) delivered baja scorpions testing. there 4 6 test flights (about half contractor , half usaf) acceptance. included systems checks, handling qualities evaluations, , low observable radar verifications. flights of aircraft made @ night without lights , runway briefly illuminated facilitate landings , takeoffs.

the first production aircraft, 80-10785 ready first flight on 20 april 1982. however, unbeknownst anyone, fly-by-wire system had been hooked incorrectly (pitch yaw , vice versa). upon liftoff, plane went out of control. instead of nose pitching up, went horizontal. aircraft went inverted , ended traveling backwards through air. pilot had no time eject, , aircraft flew ground. aircraft damaged beyond repair, of parts salvaged. additional production f-117s delivered during 1982. operational testing completed, aircraft delivered tactical air command (tac) 4450th tactical group (4450th tg) moved groom lake new base @ tonopah test range airport, nevada in october 1983 plane brought operational readiness.

on 11 july 1986, 81-10792 flew mountain near bakersfield, california. pilot appeared have made no attempt eject , killed instantly, aircraft disintegrating upon impact. recovery team dispatched crash site, , entire area cordoned off. every identifiable piece of crashed plane found , removed area prevent them falling wrong hands. doomed aircraft had reportedly carried flight data recorder, unusual usaf fighter. deceive public wreck, recovery crew had taken remains of crashed f-101a voodoo had been @ groom lake on twenty years, broke them up, , scattered them throughout area.

another accident occurred on 14 october 1987 when 83-0815 crashed in nellis range east of tonopah. again, pilot apparently made no attempt eject, , killed instantly. official cause never revealed, fatigue , disorientation flying @ night in total darkness may have both played role. these 2 accidents, along need better integrate still-secret stealth fighter regular operations, forced air force consider flying aircraft during daytime hours. in turn force air force reveal existence of aircraft. on 10 november 1988, long-rumored existence of f-117 stealth fighter officially confirmed pentagon.

in 1990 last f-117a (88-0843) delivered. , flight test squadron no longer had perform acceptance flights @ groom lake of new f-117a aircraft. however, flight test duties still included flights refurbished aircraft received lockheed.

palmdale

f-117a nighthawk 79-7084 shown in hangar @ nellis afb, nevada, while attached 57th fighter weapons wing (detachment 1).

in february/march 1992 nameless test unit moved groom lake palmdale plant 42 lockheed had produced aircraft. although of flight test activity (the infrastructure) moved groom lake palmdale, testing, rcs verification , other classified activity still conducted @ groom lake. there came under operational control of air force systems command (afsc) 2874th test squadron. 2874th ts re-designated 337th test squadron, establishment of air force material command (afmc), 337th directed come under operational control of 412th test wing @ edwards afb. in february 1993, however, test wing s director of operations proposed unit established 410th test squadron. headquarters afmc agreed this, , baja scorpions test squadron inactivated, personnel , equipment merged 410th on 1 march 1993 , squadron resumed operations.

410th flight test squadron - lockheed f-117a nighthawk 79-10783 stored in hangar 1210 while refurbished display @ afftc museum.

flight testing continued @ palmdale throughout operational life of f-117. of 410th flts s accomplishments include providing support contingency operations during operation cause in 1989, operation desert storm, operation allied force , operation iraqi freedom. on 1 august 2008, retirement of f-117 inventory, last aircraft of 410th flown tonopah tra permanent storage , unit inactivated.

heraldry

bendy sinister wavy argent , gules cypher x bendwise in base or garnished azure between 4 piles diminished in point bendwise of like, canton bendwise sinister of fourth semé of eleven mullets white, within diminished bordure yellow. approved on 9 aug 1990 (dfsc 91-02998).

lineage

baja scorpions unofficial emblem



20th anniversary f-117 patch (1981-2001)





unofficial




tactical air command ( r -unit), 1980 (aka baja scorpions )


re-designated: detachment 1, 57th fighter weapons wing, 30 may 1989
inactivated 1 march 1993
personnel , equipment merged 410th test squadron, 1 march 1993




official




designated 6510th test squadron, , activated, on 10 march 1989


ceased operations 1 july 1991
re-designated: 410th test squadron on 2 october 1992
resumed operations 1 march 1993, inheriting personnel , equipment detachment 1, 57th fighter weapons wing
re-designated: 410th flight test squadron on 1 march 1994
inactivated 1 october 2008

assignments



unofficial




senior trend joint (later combined) test force. (detachment 2, r unit, 4450th tactical group), 1980
57th fighter weapons wing, 30 may 1989
detachment 5, 2874th test squadron, february 1992
detachment 5, 337th test squadron, 1992 − 1 march 1993




official




6510th (later, 412th test) wing, 10 march 1989
412th operations group, 1 october 1993 – 1 october 2008

stations



unofficial




detachment 3, air force flight test center, 1980
nellis air force base, nevada**, 30 may 1989
air force plant 42, palmdale regional airport, california, 27 march 1992 – 1 march 1993




official




edwards air force base, california, 10 march 1989
air force plant 42, palmdale regional airport, california, 1 march 1993 – 1 october 2008

** note, headquarters , personnel assigned nellis afb, operated det 3, afftc

aircraft

f-117 nighthawk, 1981−2008


f-117 aircraft not officially assigned unit until 1 march 1993


b-1b lancer, 1989−1992