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Topic: Fitz Fulton, NASA research pilot (1925-2015)
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Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-04-2015 04:24 PM
Fitzhugh L. "Fitz" Fulton, Jr., a NASA research pilot who piloted the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft during the early Approach and Landing Tests with space shuttle Enterprise, died on Tuesday (Feb. 3). He was 89.The following biography was prepared in May 2014 by NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center. NASA Biographies: Fitzhugh L. Fulton, Jr.Fitzhugh L. Fulton, Jr. was a civilian research pilot at NASA's Dryden (now Armstrong) Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA, from August 1, 1966, until July 3, 1986, following 23 years of service as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Fulton was the project pilot on all early tests of the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) used to air launch the Space Shuttle prototype Enterprise in the Approach and Landing Tests (ALT) at Dryden in l977. During these flights, the SCA carried the unpowered Enterprise to an altitude of about 25,000 feet, where it was separated from the 747 and flown to a landing by the Shuttle test crew. Several uncrewed and crewed captive flights preceded the initial free-flights. For his work in the ALT program, Fulton received NASA's Exceptional Service Medal. He also received the Exceptional Service Medal again in 1983 for flying the 747 SCA during the European tour of the Space Shuttle Enterprise. After orbital flights began in 1981, Fulton continued to fly the SCA during ferry missions returning Orbiters to the Kennedy Space Center, FL. During his career at Dryden, Fulton was project pilot on NASA's B-52 launch aircraft used to air launch a variety of piloted and unmanned research aircraft, including the X-15s and lifting bodies, as well as project pilot on the Laminar Flow Control Leading Edge research program using a specially modified C-140 JetStar. He flew the XB-70 prototype supersonic bomber on both NASA-USAF tests and NASA research flights during the late 1960s, attaining speeds exceeding Mach 3. He was also a project pilot on the YF-12A and YF-12C research program from April 14, 1969, until September 25, 1978. The planes were flown at speeds and altitudes in excess of 2,000 mph and 70,000 feet to acquire flight data for the development of future aircraft. Fulton was the project pilot for the FAA/NASA Controlled Impact Demonstration program during 1984. It culminated on December 1, 1984, when he remotely flew an unmanned, heavily instrumented Boeing 720 to a prepared impact point on Rogers Dry Lake to test the flammability of anti-misting jet fuel in a crash situation. Before becoming a NASA research pilot Fulton was a test pilot with the Air Force. He was a project pilot on the B-58 supersonic bomber program and set an international altitude record of 85,360 feet with the aircraft carrying a payload of 11,023 pounds (5000 kilograms) in 1962. He received the 1962 Harmon International Aviation Trophy for his work on the program. Fulton was also assigned as the Air Force pilot on the B-52 launch aircraft for the X-15 research aircraft and other air-launched vehicles. During his earlier Air Force career Fulton received three Distinguished Flying Cross medals for his test pilot work. He also received a Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals for flying 55 missions in Korea and taking part in the the Berlin Airlift. Fulton attended Auburn University, the University of Oklahoma, and was a graduate of Golden Gate University. He completed the Air Force Experimental Test Pilot School in 1952. He was a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and in 1977 received the Society's Iven C. Kincheloe Award as Test Pilot of the Year for his work on the ALT program. At the time of his NASA retirement, Fulton had over 15,000 flying hours in over 200 types of aircraft. For more about Fulton, see The Greatest Test Pilot You've Never Heard Of by Carl Posey, Air & Space Magazine, December 2013. |
albatron Member Posts: 2732 From: Stuart, Florida Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 02-04-2015 04:25 PM
Another dear friend has passed. Fitz, a National Aviation Hall of Fame enshrinee, was a prolific USAF and NASA test pilot. As test pilot Joe Cotton called him, he was the "Modern Lindbergh of Test Flight". RIP friend, RIP. |
GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2476 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 02-04-2015 05:10 PM
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jasonelam Member Posts: 691 From: Monticello, KY USA Registered: Mar 2007
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MCroft04 Member Posts: 1634 From: Smithfield, Me, USA Registered: Mar 2005
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mach3valkyrie Member Posts: 719 From: Albany, Oregon Registered: Jul 2006
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alanh_7 Member Posts: 1252 From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 02-04-2015 05:27 PM
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capoetc Member Posts: 2169 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 02-04-2015 05:39 PM
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stsmithva Member Posts: 1933 From: Fairfax, VA, USA Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 02-04-2015 05:56 PM
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fredtrav Member Posts: 1673 From: Birmingham AL Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 02-04-2015 06:09 PM
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Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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rjurek349 Member Posts: 1190 From: Northwest Indiana Registered: Jan 2002
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NovaRob Member Posts: 242 From: Tucson, Arizona, USA Registered: Nov 2008
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randy Member Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
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MB Member Posts: 155 From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio U.S.A. Registered: Jul 2005
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sts205cdr Member Posts: 649 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Jun 2001
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Delta7 Member Posts: 1505 From: Bluffton IN USA Registered: Oct 2007
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Jurg Bolli Member Posts: 977 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-04-2015 08:48 PM
This is very sad. |
Michael Clemente Member Posts: 186 From: Atco, New Jersey, USA Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 02-04-2015 09:53 PM
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cfreeze79 Member Posts: 455 From: Herndon, VA, USA Registered: Nov 2000
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JohnPaul56 Member Posts: 180 From: Montclair, NJ, USA Registered: Apr 2010
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RockyMnWay Member Posts: 106 From: Westminster, CO, USA Registered: Jul 2011
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mode1charlie Member Posts: 1169 From: Honolulu, HI Registered: Sep 2010
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OV-105 Member Posts: 816 From: Ridgecrest, CA Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 02-05-2015 01:05 AM
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gliderpilotuk Member Posts: 3398 From: London, UK Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-05-2015 02:53 AM
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cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 02-05-2015 03:03 AM
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Starfighter1 Member Posts: 95 From: Registered: Feb 2007
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bruce Member Posts: 916 From: Fort Mill, SC, USA Registered: Aug 2000
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Jeff Member Posts: 474 From: Fayetteville, NC, USA Registered: May 2009
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SpaceAholic Member Posts: 4437 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
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APG85 Member Posts: 306 From: Registered: Jan 2008
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cosmos-walter Member Posts: 691 From: Salzburg, Austria Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 02-05-2015 09:11 AM
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David Carey Member Posts: 782 From: Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 02-05-2015 09:25 AM
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Kite Member Posts: 831 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 02-05-2015 10:52 AM
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East-Frisian Member Posts: 586 From: Germany Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 02-05-2015 11:44 AM
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BetaCanum New Member Posts: 6 From: Lafayette, CA USA Registered: Jan 2015
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posted 02-05-2015 12:35 PM
I met this fellow in line at an airport once. Houston, I think, but it was so long ago that I couldn't be 100% sure. I had a space shuttle patch on my carry-on and we got to talking. Didn't realize until later just how extensive his career was. Nice guy. |
tegwilym Member Posts: 2331 From: Sturgeon Bay, WI Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 02-05-2015 01:04 PM
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cfreeze79 Member Posts: 455 From: Herndon, VA, USA Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-05-2015 01:10 PM
Lucky for us - he did get a memoir into publication...Still sad to see a legend fade - but his contributions will burn brightly... |
nasamad Member Posts: 2121 From: Essex, UK Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 02-05-2015 01:30 PM
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machbusterman Member Posts: 1778 From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland Registered: May 2004
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posted 02-05-2015 03:56 PM
I'm thankful I got to meet Fitz at the 2003 Gathering of Eagles in Lancaster, CA. Such a quiet unassuming gentleman he was happy to talk aviation with anyone. His career was simply phenomenal. He spent something like 38 years or so at Edwards flying/launching just about EVERYTHING.A very sad day indeed for the aerospace community. Blue skies and fair winds Fitz! |