Monday, October 24, 2011

Graham T. Tomlinson 1950-





In 24 years with BAE Systems, Graham tested Hawks and Harriers at Dunsfold in Surrey before relocating to Fort Worth in Texas as the lead STOVL test pilot. He was a Harrier pilot with the Royal Air Force before joining BAE Systems. He was selected to fly the first STOVL aircraft, BF-1, and to be the lead test pilot for the STOVL flight test programme due to both BAE Systems’ and Graham’s personal STOVL experience


In 2010, Graham made the first vertical landing of the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland.


He was presented with the prestigious Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN) Derry & Richards Memorial Medal, given in recognition of outstanding contributions in advancing the art and science of aviation.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Jean Bongiraud











The Falcon 50 EX made its first flight at Mérignac on April 10, 1996, piloted by Jean Bongiraud and Etienne Faurdessus.