NAS Patuxent River, A History: Volume III - Aircraft That Began Testing Between 1956 and 2020

NAS Patuxent River, A History: Volume III - Aircraft That Began Testing Between 1956 and 2020

Beginning where Volume II ended, Volume III spans an era in which carrier-based fighters became capable of Mach 2 flight, UAVs began being militarily essential, new types of rotorcraft emerged, and ‘stealth’ became a reality. Mission systems on every naval aircraft, from fighters to helicopters to patrol planes, became vastly more complex, with computer processors integrating on-board and off-board sensors with weapons, communication systems, and human operators. As always, the focal point for testing each generation of aircraft and systems was NAS Patuxent River. This book outlines every aircraft model that is known to have begun testing at Pax River between January of 1956 and the end of 2020.