Fitz Fulton

Fitz Fulton. Aerospace Walk of Honor. , Lt. Colonel Fitzhugh L. "Fitz" Fulton, Jr., USAF , Fitz Fulton flew more than 16,000 flight hours in 235 different aircraft types. He tested most of the military bombers and transports developed between 1950 and 1990. , , Some of the significant flight testing in which he participated include: B-47, B-57 and B-52 tests; B-58 development; XB-70 research; NASA MF-12 supersonic research; and initial 747 shuttle carrier airplane tests. He flew the Boeing 747 for all five of the shuttle launches. Earlier, Fulton was the launch pilot who dropped the X-1, X-2, M-15, M-2, HL-10, and X-24 rocket airplanes from B-29, B-50, and B-52 bombers. , , Fulton made 225 trips to Berlin in C-54s during the Airlift. He also flew 55 combat missions in the Douglas B-26 over North Korea. , , After 23 years of military service, Fulton retired from the USAF in 1960. He was Chief of the Bomber Transport Test Operations Division at Edwards AFB when he retired. He then joined the NASA Ames-Dryden Fight Research Center and was Chief Test Pilot when he retired again in 1986. Also in 1986, he became the Flight Operations Director and Chief Research Pilot for Scaled Composites. He retired once more in 1989. , , While at Scaled Composites he made the first flights of the Advanced Technology Tactical Transport and the Model 143 twin engine executive jet. Lt. Colonel Fulton holds a BA from Golden State University. He was selected as the USAF Expenmental Test Pilot School's first "Distinguished Alumnus." Fulton's other honers include: Kincheloe Trophy, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, five Air Medals, two NASA Exceptional Service Medals, and the Aerospace Wall of Honor. , , Established in 1990 by the Lancaster City Council, the Aerospace Walk of Honor celebrates test pilots who were associated with Edwards AFB. Recognition is awarded for distinguished aviation careers marked by significant and obvious achievements beyond one specific accomplishment.