Steven M. Rainey

Last updated
Steven M. Rainey
Steve Hooter Rainey in January 2010.jpg
Rainey in 2010
Nickname(s)Hooter
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service1980–2000
Rank Lt. Colonel
Commands 411th Flight Test Squadron
Battles/wars Cold War
Other workF-22 Chief Test Pilot

Steven M. Rainey is a test pilot and retired United States Air Force (USAF) officer. As of 2022, he is a test pilot for Stratolaunch Systems working on the Scaled Composites Stratolaunch aircraft. Previously, he was Lockheed Martin's chief F-22 test pilot, Boeing's lead F-22 test pilot, and commander of the USAF 411th Flight Test Squadron. He is noted for a number of achievements while flight testing the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. He was the first USAF pilot to fly the aircraft, the first pilot to perform aerial refueling in the F-22, and the first pilot to fly cross-country in the Raptor.

Contents

Rainey was the president of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots for 2012 and is a fellow of the organization.

Military career

Rainey attended the United States Air Force Academy and graduated in 1980 with a degree in Engineering Mechanics. He attended undergraduate pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma. Rainey was stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany where he flew the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. [1]

After service in Europe, Rainey was assigned to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where he performed flight testing on the F-4 and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. In 1990, he graduated from the University of Miami with a master's degree in mechanical engineering. He was selected to attend the United States Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland and graduated in 1991. After test pilot school, Rainey was assigned to the F-16 Combined Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base in California where he tested avionics upgrades and new subsystems including the HARM Targeting System. [1]

F-22 flight testing

Rainey was the first pilot to perform air refueling in the F-22 First F-22 Refuel July 30 1998.png
Rainey was the first pilot to perform air refueling in the F-22

In 1994, Rainey joined the F-22 system program office and two years later was assigned as operations officer for the F-22 Combined Test Force (CTF)—the joint USAF/contractor group that led all F-22 flight test operations. [2] He evaluated the Boeing life support system that was specially developed to counter the effects of high g-loading produced by the highly maneuverable fighter. [3] Included in Rainey's assessment was the HGU-86/P helmet that contained numerous improvements over earlier models including a more secure fit, active noise reduction, and better protection in the event of ejection. [4] Rainey described the helmet as "one of the lightest and most comfortable" he had ever used. [5]

On September 7, 1997, Rainey flew one of the chase aircraft supporting the F-22 first flight from Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia. Rainey and Lockheed test pilot Jon Beesley took off first in their F-16s and circled around to join up with F-22 chief test pilot Paul Metz flying Raptor 01—the first of nine aircraft built during the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase. The F-22's rate of climb exceeded expectations making it difficult for Rainey and Beesley to keep up. During the successful fifty-eight-minute flight, Metz evaluated engine power settings, landing gear operation, and formation flying qualities. [6] [7] After a second test flight, Raptor 01 arrived at Edwards AFB on February 5, 1998, carried aboard a Lockheed C-5 Galaxy for additional testing in which Rainey would play a significant role. [8]

Raptor 02, piloted by Rainey, on the F-22 program's first cross continental flight Raptor 4002 Cross Country Steve Rainey 98 37204.png
Raptor 02, piloted by Rainey, on the F-22 program's first cross continental flight

On May 17, 1998, he became the first Air Force pilot to fly the F-22 during a mission to evaluate flying qualities, speed brake handling, and formation flying. The eighty-minute mission in Raptor 01 was considered the start of formal flight test for the EMD phase of the program. [9] On June 29, 1998, at the Lockheed plant in Marietta, Rainey flew chase for Metz during the first flight of the second EMD aircraft—Raptor 02. [10]

On July 30, 1998, Rainey became the first pilot to perform air-to-air refueling in an F-22, taking Raptor 01 on a ninety-minute mission with a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker from the 452d Flight Test Squadron. Rainey and the refueling crew tested the characteristics of the F-22's refueling system and verified the limits of safe operation. The test was a success, and Rainey reported the F-22 was "extremely stable with outstanding flying qualities." [11]

Less than a month later, Rainey flew Raptor 02 from Marietta, Georgia to Edwards Air Force Base on the first non-stop cross-country flight for an F-22. Accompanied by chase aircraft and tankers, the 4.5 hour flight ended successfully at noon on August 26, 1998, adding a second Raptor to the CTF test program. [2] [12] Rainey summed up his experience by stating, "It's the best flying aircraft I have flown, and it sets a new standard of excellence in fighter aviation." [13]

At the 42nd annual symposium of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots held in September 1999, Rainey and Lt. Colonel Allen Kohn updated their peers on the status of the F-22 test program. The presentation summarized the envelope expansion testing of the last year and provided insight into the integration challenges of an aircraft where software is involved in nearly every action, including lowering the landing gear. [14]

In 1999, Rainey starred in Pushing the Envelope, the third episode of the Test Pilots documentary series created by The Learning Channel. Narrated by actor Alec Baldwin, this show discussed the risks involved with flight testing using Rainey's F-22 test experience as an example. [15]

Rainey briefs CSAF Michael Ryan prior to flying chase for an F-22 mission Michael Ryan and Steve Rainey 20000111 000044a - (cropped).jpg
Rainey briefs CSAF Michael Ryan prior to flying chase for an F-22 mission

In January 2000, after Rainey assumed command of the 411th Flight Test Squadron, Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten Peters visited the F-22 Combined Test Force. Rainey and fellow test pilot David Nelson gave Peters a personal tour of the aircraft. [16]

During a January 2000 visit by the USAF Chief of Staff, Rainey and General Michael Ryan supported an F-22 test mission by flying alongside in F-16s. Ryan remarked that the hour-long flight left him "even more rabid" about the Air Force's new air superiority fighter. [17] Weeks later, during a visit to Tuzla Air Base in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the chase flight with Rainey was still fresh in Ryan's mind. Ryan's enthusiastic description of the F-22's performance relative to the F-16 that he flew left the audience in awe. [18]

On March 15, 2000, a third F-22 arrived at Edwards with a fourth due later that year. Rainey noted the effect the F-22's increasing maturity had on the pilot training program. New pilots, such as Lt. Colonel Bill Craig who delivered aircraft 4003, would arrive in increasing numbers to support the test program's needs. Rainey also expressed excitement at the arrival of aircraft 4004 that would allow CTF personnel to evaluate the integrated avionics suite and the promise of allowing a pilot to become "a tactician rather than a housekeeper." [19] [20] Rainey retired from the Air Force later that year with the rank of lieutenant colonel. [1]

Civilian career

After twenty years of military service, Rainey transitioned to commercial aviation as a pilot for American Airlines. Three years later, he returned to Edwards AFB after accepting a pilot position in the United States civil service.

Boeing

In 2005, Rainey joined Boeing Defense, Space & Security as the company's lead test pilot for the F-22. He participated in many testing activities including the initial missions to verify the aircraft could safely carry the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb. [1]

All of the sensor information has been fused into a single picture for the pilot. Information is what is going to be the key to success on the battlefield.

— Rainey on the F-22's avionics [21]

Rainey has been a strong advocate for the F-22. On November 14, 2006, he described the aircraft's performance at the Aerospace Testing Exposition in Anaheim, California. [22] Rainey and fellow test pilots, David Cooley, James Brown, and Bret Luedke toured the United States giving demonstrations of the F-22 cockpit simulator to raise awareness and support for the aircraft. [23] [24] After Cooley was killed flying an F-22 test mission, Rainey fondly remembered his friend as "a consummate professional and a true leader" [25]

Cadets from the USAF Academy come to Edwards AFB to receive instruction in aviation sciences and airmanship. Rainey participated in these events by providing orientation flights for cadets such as sophomore Callie Brown. In March 2008, Brown received her orientation flight in an F-16 piloted by Rainey. This flight was especially memorable for Rainey because cadet Brown is the daughter of fellow F-22 test pilot, James Brown, who flew in formation with another Air Force Academy cadet in his back seat. [26]

Rainey addresses SETP members at the Society's 2012 Awards Banquet SETP 2012 President Steven Rainey Addresses the Society.jpg
Rainey addresses SETP members at the Society's 2012 Awards Banquet

Rainey also encouraged civilian students to achieve academic excellence. In 2008, Rainey was the guest speaker at a dinner, sponsored by the Antelope Valley Athletic Club, that recognized outstanding students in local schools. [27] Rainey has been a significant contributor to the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He was the chairman of the West Coast section from 2005 through 2008 and was the society President for 2012. [28]

In March 2012, Rainey met with Harald and Margi Bauer and gave them a tour of the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB. As a teenager during World War II, Bauer tested the Heinkel He 162 for the German Luftwaffe. After the war, he graduated from the University of Kentucky, became a United States citizen, flew for U.S. Navy during the Korean War, and had a successful career as an Associated Press and United Press International journalist. [29] [30]

During 2012, Rainey continued to perform F-22 flight testing at Edwards AFB. On April 6, he was on hand to congratulate his friend, James Brown, who became the first test pilot to reach 1,000 flight hours in the F-22. [31]

On May 4, 2012, Rainey piloted the first flight of the QF-16 Full-Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) at Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Florida. The QF-16 is a target drone variant of the F-16 that is planned to replace the aging QF-4. Rainey's 66-minute flight to validate flying qualities and drone operation is the first step of the QF-16 flight test program that will be performed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Holloman Air Force Base, and White Sands Missile Range. [32]

Rainey flew the 1,000th sortie of the Raptor program on April 19, 2013, in aircraft 4007 while testing the Increment 3.2A avionics software upgrade. Aircraft 4007 is the oldest flying Raptor and is often referred to as the "James Bond jet" due to the similarity with the fictional British secret agent's code name - "007". [33]

Lockheed Martin

In January 2014, Rainey joined Lockheed Martin as F-22 chief test pilot. He spent the next year testing improvements and new capabilities on the jet. On January 22, 2015, Rainey reached a milestone 1,000 hours flying the F-22 Raptor. [34] As test director, Rainey has been overseeing F-22 capability improvements including weapons, data links, and an automatic ground collision avoidance system. [35]

Rainey has worked on the F-22 program nearly from its beginning. On May 17, 1998, he was the first Air Force pilot to fly the F-22. Exactly twenty years later on May 17, 2018, now as Lockheed's chief F-22 test pilot, Rainey again flew the fighter to exceed 1,260 flight hours in the Raptor. To celebrate this anniversary, Rainey received a “wash down” from the ground support team. [36] Normally reserved for a pilot's final or “fini” flight, a wash down soaks the pilot with water or champagne as he or she exits the aircraft. The wash down has been a tradition for military aviators since World War II. [37]

Stratolaunch Systems

In 2022, Rainey left Lockheed Martin and accepted a test pilot position with Stratolaunch Systems where he is helping to test the world's largest airplane, Scaled Composites Roc, that will eventually be used to launch aerospace payloads. On May 4, 2022, Rainey co-piloted Roc on the first test of a pylon to which hypersonic vehicles will be mounted. [38] In 2023, he provided insights on the F-22 and the Roc at an event hosted by the Western Museum of Flight, [39] and described challenges landing large aircraft. [40]

Rainey and his wife, Cindy, live at the Rosamond Skypark where they fly their Van's Aircraft RV-4 and Cessna 180 Skywagon. [41]

Honors

Rainey is a fellow and past president of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. [42]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Steve Rainey Biography". Lancaster, California: The Society of Experimental Test Pilots. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  2. 1 2 Pace 1999, p. 36.
  3. ↑ Sweetman 1998, p. 485.
  4. ↑ Drendel 2011, p. 38.
  5. ↑ "Boeing Completes Safety-Of-Flight Testing of Life-Support System for F-22 Fighter Pilots". Chicago, Illinois: Boeing. May 22, 1997. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  6. ↑ Pace 1999, pp. 28–30.
  7. ↑ "F-22 Raptor Soars in First Flight". Chicago, Illinois: Boeing. September 7, 1997. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  8. ↑ Pace 1999, p. 35.
  9. ↑ "F-22 Raptor: Edwards begins flight testing". Desert Wings. Edwards Air Force Base, California: USAF Flight Test Center Public Affairs. July 1998. Archived from the original on May 10, 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  10. ↑ Pace 1999, p. 33.
  11. ↑ "Testers complete first aerial refueling". Edwards Air Force Base, California: USAF Flight Test Center Public Affairs. July 30, 1998. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Second Raptor Flies Non-stop Cross Country to Edwards". Release No. 98-08-26. Edwards Air Force Base, California: USAF Flight Test Center Public Affairs. August 26, 1998. Archived from the original on February 25, 2002. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  13. ↑ Pace 1999, p. 87.
  14. ↑ Rainey & Kohn 1998, p. 38.
  15. ↑ Southern, Nathan (2010). "Test Pilots: Pushing the Envelope (1999)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . New York, New York. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  16. ↑ "No Other Fighter Like It, Boss". Edwards Air Force Base, California: USAF Flight Test Center Public Affairs. January 2000. Archived from the original on October 3, 2002. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  17. ↑ Johnson 2000a.
  18. ↑ Clor 2001.
  19. ↑ Grier 2000, p. 25.
  20. ↑ Johnson 2000b.
  21. ↑ F-22 Raptor "Bird of Prey". 1998. p. cover.
  22. ↑ "Aerospace Testing Expo and Aerospace Design Expo North America". San Francisco, California: Aviation News. November 15, 2006. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Boeing, Lockheed team to make the case for the F-22 Raptor". Seattle, Washington: Seattlepi. April 17, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  24. ↑ Minch 2009.
  25. ↑ Thurber 2009.
  26. ↑ Reynolds 2008, p. 1.
  27. ↑ Roth 2008.
  28. ↑ "SETP Presidents". Lancaster, California: The Society of Experimental Test Pilots. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  29. ↑ "EWM Members Harald and Margi Bauer pose with F-22 Test Pilot Steve "Hooter" Rainey". Paso Robles, California: Estrella Warbird Museum. March 17, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  30. ↑ Reynolds, Linda KC (March 17, 2012a). "Former Luftwaffe pilot visits Edwards". Lancaster, California: Aerotech News. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  31. ↑ Reynolds 2012b, p. 1.
  32. ↑ Parker, Wendy (September 4, 2012). "QF-16 Takes Flight". Seatlle, Washington: Boeing. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  33. ↑ Mowry, Laura (April 24, 2013). "CTF celebrates Raptor's 1,000th sortie". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  34. ↑ Amber 2015.
  35. ↑ Tirpak 2015.
  36. ↑ Reynolds 2018.
  37. ↑ Hall 2016.
  38. ↑ Patterson 2022.
  39. ↑ "Test Pilot's Insights on the F-22 Raptor and Stratolaunch's Hypersonic Platforms with Steve Rainey". YouTube. Western Museum of Flight. January 24, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  40. ↑ Helfrich, Emma (March 29, 2023). "How To Land The World's Biggest Aircraft According To Its Test Pilot". The Warzone. Current Ventures. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  41. ↑ Reynolds 2015.
  42. ↑ "2012 Fellow Class". Lancaster, California: The Society of Experimental Test Pilots. 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2015.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Area 51</span> U.S Air Force facility in southern Nevada, United States

Area 51 is the common name of a highly classified United States Air Force (USAF) facility within the Nevada Test and Training Range. A remote detachment administered by Edwards Air Force Base, the facility is officially called Homey Airport or Groom Lake. Details of its operations are not made public, but the USAF says that it is an open training range, and it is commonly thought to support the development and testing of experimental aircraft and weapons systems. The USAF and CIA acquired the site in 1955, primarily for flight testing the Lockheed U-2 aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor</span> American stealth air superiority fighter

The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is an American twin-engine all-weather stealth fighter aircraft developed and produced for the United States Air Force (USAF). As a product of the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program the aircraft was designed as an air superiority fighter, but also incorporates ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence capabilities. The prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, built most of the F-22's airframe and weapons systems and conducted final assembly, while program partner Boeing provided the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and training systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C. Gordon Fullerton</span> American astronaut (1936–2013)

Charles Gordon Fullerton was a United States Air Force colonel, a USAF and NASA astronaut, and a research pilot at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, California. His assignments included a variety of flight research and support activities piloting NASA's B-52 launch aircraft, the Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), and other multi-engine and high performance aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed YF-22</span> Prototype fighter aircraft for the U.S. Air Force Advanced Tactical Fighter program

The Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics YF-22 is an American single-seat, twin-engine fighter aircraft technology demonstrator designed for the United States Air Force (USAF). The design team, with Lockheed as the prime contractor, was a finalist in the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) competition, and two prototypes were built for the demonstration/validation phase of the competition. The YF-22 team won the contest against the YF-23 team for full-scale development, and the design was developed into the Lockheed Martin F-22. The YF-22 has a similar aerodynamic layout and configuration as the F-22, but with notable differences in the overall shaping such as the position and design of the cockpit, tail fins and wings, and in internal structural layout.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal International Air Tattoo</span> Military air show in Gloucestershire, England

The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is the world's largest military air show, held annually in July, usually at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England in support of The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust. The show typically attracts a total of 150,000 to 200,000 spectators over the weekend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iven C. Kincheloe Award</span>

The Iven C. Kincheloe Award recognizes outstanding professional accomplishment in the conduct of flight testing. It was established in 1958 by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots in memory of test pilot and Korean War ace Iven C. Kincheloe, United States Air Force, who died during flight testing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Force Test Center</span> US Air Force flight test center

The Air Force Test Center (AFTC) is a development and test organization of the United States Air Force. It conducts research, development, test, and evaluation of aerospace systems from concept to deployment. It has test flown every aircraft in the Army Air Force's and the Air Force's inventory since World War II. The center employs nearly 13,000 people, and controls the second largest base in the Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Kendall Everest Jr.</span> United States Air Force general

Brigadier General Frank Kendall "Pete" Everest Jr. was a U.S. Air Force officer who is best remembered as an aeroengineer and test pilot during the 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert Boyd</span> United States Air Force general (1906–1976)

Albert G Boyd was a pioneering test pilot for the United States Air Force (USAF). During his 30-year career, he logged more than 23,000 hours of flight time in 723 military aircraft. When he retired in 1957, he had flown every aircraft type operated by the USAF, including attack, cargo, trainer, fighter, experimental, bomber, mission trainer, liaison, observation, and general aviation planes and helicopters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fitzhugh L. Fulton</span> American test pilot

Fitzhugh L. "Fitz" Fulton, Jr., , was a civilian research pilot at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, from August 1, 1966, until July 3, 1986, following 23 years of distinguished service as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force.

<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">George J. Marrett</span>

George J. Marrett is a former United States Air Force officer, combat veteran, and test pilot. He is the author of many aviation-related books and articles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert L. Stephens</span>

Robert L. "Silver Fox" Stephens was a United States Air Force test pilot who set several speed and altitude records while testing the Lockheed YF-12 and SR-71.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">411th Flight Test Squadron</span> United States Air Force military unit

The 411th Flight Test Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron assigned to the 412th Operations Group of Air Force Materiel Command, stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It conducted the Advanced Tactical Fighter program flyoff competition between the Lockheed YF-22 and Northrop YF-23 prototypes. Following the completion of the competition, the squadron has conducted testing of the Lockheed Martin F-22.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David P. Cooley</span> American test pilot

David Paul Cooley was a Lockheed test pilot and retired United States Air Force (USAF) officer, responsible for developmental flight testing of the F-117 Nighthawk. He was killed while flying a test mission in an F-22 Raptor jet fighter over the high desert of Southern California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerauld R. Gentry</span> United States Air Force pilot (1935–2003)

Jerauld Richard "Jerry" Gentry was a United States Air Force (USAF) test pilot and Vietnam combat veteran. As chief USAF pilot of the Lifting Body Research Program, he helped validate the concept of flying a wingless vehicle back to Earth from space and landing it like an aircraft—an approach used by the Space Shuttle and to a greater degree by vehicles such as the Lockheed Martin X-33 and NASA X-38. Gentry completed thirty lifting body flights including the first flight of the Martin-Marietta X-24A and the second flight of the Northrop HL-10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James E. Brown III</span>

James E. Brown III is an aerospace executive, test pilot instructor, and former United States Air Force officer. As of 2021, he is the president of the National Test Pilot School located in Mojave, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Onizuka Prop Wash Award</span>

The Onizuka Prop Wash Award recognizes the student at the United States Air Force Test Pilot School who contributed most to class spirit and morale. The honoree from each class is selected by his or her fellow students rather than by school faculty. The award is named in memory of TPS graduate Ellison Onizuka who perished in the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard G. Thomas</span> American test pilot

Richard G. Thomas was an American test pilot, who flew the Tacit Blue, and several spin tests on the F-5F program, including the first flights on both aircraft for the Northrop Corporation.

References

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.