Albert Boyd

Albert Boyd

Major General Albert Boyd
(USAF Photo)
Nickname(s) Al
Born (1906-11-22)November 22, 1906
Rankin, Tennessee, U.S.
Died September 18, 1976(1976-09-18) (aged 69)
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service 1927 - 1957
Rank Major General
Commands held Chief of Flight Section, Wright-Patterson AFB
Commander, Experimental Test Pilot School
Commander, USAF Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB
Commander, Wright Air Development Center
Deputy Commander, Weapons System Headquarters, ARDC
Awards Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Service Medal

Albert Boyd (November 22, 1906 September 18, 1976) 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 (though this number of the total number flown includes variants and sub variants of some types, and is not 723 distinct types). 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.

From 1947 to 1957, Boyd flew and approved every aircraft type acquired by the USAF. When he retired, he was praised as the "Father of Modern Flight Testing," "World's Number One Test Pilot," "Dean of American Test Pilots" and "Father of USAF Test Pilots." Boyd died on September 18, 1976.

His assignments included:

The prototype Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, modified as a racer and designated P-80R,[1] was piloted by Colonel Boyd to a world air speed record of 623.73 mph (1,004.2 km/h) on 19 June 1947.[2]

Awards

References

  1. "P-80 Shooting Star/44-85200." National Museum of the USAF. Retrieved: 9 October 2012.
  2. Francillon 1982, pp. 241-242
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