417th Flight Test Squadron

Last updated

417th Flight Test Squadron
Air Force Materiel Command.png
417th Flight Test Squadron - Boeing YAL-1A 00-0001.jpg
417th Flight Test Squadron Boeing YAL-1A
Active1989–1995; 2006–2012; 2019–present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
TypeSquadron
RoleFlight Testing
Part of Air Force Materiel Command
Garrison/HQ Eglin Air Force Base
Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award [1]
Insignia
417th Flight Test Squadron emblem [note 1] [1] 417th Flight Test Squadron.jpg

The 417th Flight Test Squadron is an active United States Air Force squadron. It is assigned to the 96th Operations Group at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, where it was reactivated on 17 April 2019.

Contents

The squadron was first activated in 1989 as the 6517th Test Squadron and conducted flight testing of the McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III until it was inactivated in 1995 as the 417th Test Squadron.

It was reactivated in 2006 and performed ground and flight testing on the Boeing YAL-1A until 2010, before that program was cancelled.

History

C-17 Globemaster III testing

Established in 1989 as the 6517th Test Squadron to perform flight testing on the new McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III airlifter which was developed by McDonnell Douglas to replace the aging Lockheed C-141 Starlifter. The squadron received its first YC-17A (T-1) in late 1991 (87-25). Five more C-17A production models (88-265, 88-266 (P-1, P-2, LotI)), (89-1189 - 89-1192 (Lot II, P-3, P-4, P-5)) participated in extensive flight testing and evaluation. Testing was completed and the first production model was delivered to the 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina on 14 July 1993. [2] [3]

The first C-17 squadron was operational (17th Airlift Squadron) in January 1995. The squadron was inactivated on 1 October [1] and C-17 support was transferred to the 418th Flight Test Squadron.[ citation needed ]

YAL-1A Airborne Laser testing

It was reactivated in March 2006 for flight testing on Boeing YAL-1A Airborne Laser aircraft (ABL). The ABL was an airborne-directed energy weapon system. The YAL-1A is a prototype that employs a highly modified Boeing 747-400 airframe equipped with sensors, lasers and sophisticated optics to find, track and destroy ballistic missiles in their boost, or ascent, phase. [4]

In February 2007, the ABL began a series of flight tests, which included the first in-flight firing of the TILL targeting laser at a simulated target, in March 2007. This was followed by flight tests of the BILL illuminating laser and tests of TILL, BILL and a surrogate high-energy laser (SHEL) low-power laser. Installation of the six COIL laser modules was completed in February 2008. The first firing ('first light') of the COIL laser took place in September 2008. The test lasted less than a second and was followed by further ground tests of increased duration and power. In November 2008, the COIL laser was fired and focused through the beam control / fire control system. [5]

A high energy laser aboard the aircraft was successfully fired from Edwards Air Force Base in August 2009. The YAL 1A laser travels at the speed of light to destroy ballistic missiles in their boost phase of flight. In January 2010, the high energy laser was fired to intercept a test Missile Alternative Range Target Instrument (MARTI). [5]

In February 2010, the US MDA and Boeing jointly tested the speed, precision and breakthrough potential of directed energy weapons deployed in the ABL test bed. [5] In 2010, the ALTB successfully knocked a "threat representative" missile out of flight from a distance of 50 miles. This resulted in the program receiving an additional $40 million in funding even though the Secretary of Defense himself admitted it was not realistic. However, in that same year the device failed two tests in a row. In 2011 funding was eliminated as the program was eight years behind schedule and it had a staggeringly large budget of $500 million per year. [6]

The program was terminated due to budget reductions on 14 February 2012. The YAL-1A Airborne Laser Test Bed aircraft was ferried to Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona where it was placed in storage at the Air Force's Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group. [7]

Lineage

Redesignated 417th Test Squadron on 2 October 1992
Redesignated 417th Flight Test Squadron on 1 March 1994
Inactivated on 1 October 1995
Inactivated on 30 June 2010

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing C-17 Globemaster III</span> Four engine military transport aircraft

The McDonnell Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft that was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas. The C-17 carries forward the name of two previous piston-engined military cargo aircraft, the Douglas C-74 Globemaster and the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing YAL-1</span> Airborne laser demonstrator aircraft by Boeing

The Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser Testbed weapons system was a megawatt-class chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL) mounted inside a modified military Boeing 747-400F. It was primarily designed as a missile defense system to destroy tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs) while in boost phase. The aircraft was designated YAL-1A in 2004 by the U.S. Department of Defense.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">16th Airlift Squadron</span> Military unit

The 16th Airlift Squadron is an active unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to the 437th Airlift Wing, Air Mobility Command. It is based at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. The squadron operates Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission worldwide.

An airborne laser (ABL) is a laser system operated from a flying platform, as in the:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">412th Test Wing</span> Unit of the US Air Force Test Center at Edwards AFB, CA

The 412th Test Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force, assigned to the Air Force Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">97th Airlift Squadron</span> Military unit

The 97th Airlift Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 446th Operations Group, stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. It is a USAF Associate Unit of the active duty 4th Airlift Squadron, 62d Airlift Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron</span> Military unit

The 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron is part of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. It operates the E-8 Joint STARS aircraft, conducting airborne command and control missions. The squadron has performed the airborne command and control mission since 1968, when it was activated in Vietnam. In 1985, the squadron was consolidated with three earlier units: The 7th Ferrying Squadron, which helped deliver aircraft to the Soviet Union from 1942 until 1944; the 7th Combat Cargo Squadron, which performed combat airlift missions in the Southwest Pacific Theater from 1944 until V-J Day, then became part of the Occupation Forces in Japan until inactivating in 1948; and the 7th Air Transport Squadron, Special, which provided airlift support for the United States' special weapons program from 1954 to 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">31st Combat Training Squadron</span> US Air Force unit

The 31st Combat Training Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. It is currently assigned to the Nevada Test and Training Range at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">415th Flight Test Flight</span> United States Air Force reserve squadron

The 415th Flight Test Flight is a United States Air Force reserve unit. It is assigned to the 413th Flight Test Group of Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">416th Flight Test Squadron</span> Military unit

The 416th Flight Test Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron. It is assigned to the 412th Operations Group, Air Force Materiel Command at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The 416th performs flight testing on General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">418th Flight Test Squadron</span> US Air Force squadron assigned to the AF Materiel Command

The 418th Flight Test Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron. It is assigned to the 412th Operations Group, Air Force Materiel Command, stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">419th Flight Test Squadron</span> Military unit


The 419th Flight Test Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron. It is assigned to the 412th Operations Group, Air Force Materiel Command, stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">445th Test Squadron</span> Military unit

The 445th Test Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron. It is assigned to the 412th Operations Group at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The 445th is part of the Air Force Test Center. Originally constituted in 1943 as the 445th Fighter Squadron, it was involved in the early testing of the first U.S. jets, the Bell P-59 Airacomet and later the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star. The squadron would also be involved in flight-testing captured enemy aircraft, such as the Mitsubishi A6M Zero. During the Cold War, the unit served under the Air Defense Command as the 445th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flying various interceptor aircraft in defense of the Continental United States. De-activated in 1968 following a draw-down of active duty interceptor units, it was re-activated as the 6512th Test Squadron Squadron in 1969, beginning its official flight-testing mission. The unit was de-activated, re-activated, and re-designated multiple times over its life, being most recently re-activated with its current name in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">452nd Flight Test Squadron</span> US Air Force unit

The 452d Flight Test Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron. It is assigned to the 412th Operations Group, Air Force Materiel Command, stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">461st Flight Test Squadron</span> US Air Force squadron, part of Air Force Materiel Command

The 461st Flight Test Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron, assigned to the 412th Operations Group of Air Force Materiel Command, and is stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The Squadron performs flight testing on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">29th Test and Evaluation Squadron</span> Military unit

The 29th Training Systems Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 753d Test and Evaluation Group, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">57th Weapons Squadron</span> US Air Force unit

The 57th Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the USAF Weapons School, stationed at the McChord AFB component of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. The squadron is a geographically separated unit of the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The mission of the squadron is to provide Boeing C-17 Globemaster III instructional flying.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing Phantom Eye</span> Proposed unmanned aerial vehicle

The Boeing Phantom Eye was a high altitude, long endurance (HALE) liquid hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Boeing Phantom Works. The aircraft was Boeing's proposal to meet the demand from the US military for unmanned drones designed to provide advanced intelligence and reconnaissance work, driven by the combat conditions in Afghanistan in particular. In August 2016, the Phantom Eye demonstrator was disassembled for display at the Air Force Flight Test Museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron</span> Military unit

The 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron was a provisional United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 385th Air Expeditionary Group, stationed at Al Udeid Air Base, Doha, Qatar. It was last engaged in combat operations in Southwest Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">915th Tactical Fighter Group</span> Military unit

The 915th Tactical Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force Reserve unit. It was last active with the Tenth Air Force, based at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida. It was inactivated on 1 April 1981.

References

Notes

Explanatory Notes
  1. ↑ Approved 25 June 2007.
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ream, Margaret (14 October 2020). "Factsheet 417 Flight Test Squadron (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  2. ↑ Norton,[ page needed ]
  3. ↑ Air Force Serial Number Search, C-17 Globemaster III
  4. ↑ Grill, TSG Eric M. (6 December 2006). "417th Flight Test Squadron stands up". 412th Test Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 "Airborne Laser System (ABL) YAL 1A, United States of America". airforce-technology.com. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  6. ↑ Rupert, Madison (22 February 2012). "Airborne Laser Program Dumped After 16 Years and Billions Spent in Development". The Intel Hub. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  7. ↑ Fabara, Jet (24 February 2012). "Airborne Laser Test Bed bids adieu to Edwards AFB". USAF Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2017.

Bibliography

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.