Richard (Dick) Abrams 1938-1994

This is the sixth flight of the first prototype of the B-1 taken on April 10, 1975 It is signed by the Flight Commander Charlie Bock, the Pilot Ted Sturmthal and the Flight Engineer Richard Abrams.


Richard (Dick) Abrams, was a 14-year Lockheed employee who served as flight test director for the company's top secret "Skunk Works" facility in Palmdale.
In 1980, Abrams joined the then Burbank-based Skunk Works--Lockheed's Advanced Development Co.--as a senior engineer. From 1989 to 1991, he served as flight test program manager for Lockheed's YF-22 fighter plane, supervising test flights of the aircraft in the Antelope Valley at Edwards Air Force Base and the company's Palmdale facility.
Abrams was appointed flight test director for the Skunk Works in March, 1991.
In April of 1994, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics awarded him its Chanute Flight Test Award in recognition of his work in flight testing the F-117 Stealth Fighter and the YF-22A Advanced Tactical Fighter.
Prior to his tenure at Lockheed, Abrams worked at the Federal Aviation Administration and at Rockwell International's B-1 division. He also spent a decade with the U.S. Air Force.
Among his professional affiliations, Abrams was a member of the Society of Flight Test Engineers, the Flight Test Historical Foundation and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. In addition, he authored the book "Corsair at War."
In 1960, Abrams received a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He later received a master's degree in systems management from USC