| Philip F. Oestricher | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1931 |
| Died | (aged 84) Fort Worth, Texas, United States |
| Service | United States Marine Corps |
Philip F. Oestricher (1931 – December 18, 2015) was an American aerodynamics engineer and test pilot. He made both the unscheduled first flight of the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon on January 20, 1974 and its official first flight on February 2, 1974.
Career
Oestricher worked at Consolidated Vultee as an aerodynamics engineer on the B-36 bomber. He later served in the United States Marine Corps, where he flew the F4D Skyray. As a test pilot, Oestricher flew all models of the F-111 fighter-bomber.
On January 20, 1974, Oestricher piloted the unscheduled first flight of the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon at Edwards Air Force Base, California. While performing high-speed ground tests, Oestricher nearly lost control of the aircraft when it entered a series of roll oscillations. Oestricher elected to take the craft airborne to avoid crashing and remained in flight for six minutes. Oestricher also piloted the F-16's official first flight on February 2, 1974. He contributed to the development of multiple versions of the F-16 and established F-16 safety protocols.
Death
Oestricher died in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 18, 2015, at the age of 84.
References
- ^ "In Memoriam - Philip F. Oestricher, Test Pilot". Code One. Vol. 31, no. 1. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. December 22, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- ^ Stout, Joe (1992). "What A Wonderful Airplane: YF-16 First Flight". Code One. Vol. 7, no. 3. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- ^ Mizokami, Kyle (January 23, 2020). "That Time When the F-16 Accidentally Had Its First Flight". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
External links
- "Memorable Moment - YF-16 Test Pilot Phil Oestricher". Lockheed Martin. April 4, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
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