Col James G.Rider

Jim Rider is a graduate of the Test Pilots School at Edwards. He flew in many of the test programs at the base during the 1960's and 1970's including the NF-104. He commanded the Lightweight Fighter Test Force which pitted the Northrop YF-17 against the General Dynamics YF-16 and resulted in the ubiquitous F-16 fighter. In the mid-1960's he was assigned to direct the NF-104 program for the Aerospace Research Pilots School at Edwards