Unique Dual Qualification

Posted 31 January 2013
Photo by Chris A. Neill

In late January 2013, Lt. Col. Chris Spinelli, the commander of the 445th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, California, earned a unique distinction, becoming dual flight qualified in the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the KC-135 Stratotanker. According to Spinelli, this unique opportunity arose after he noticed the demand for tanker test pilots within his squadron, especially in light of the on-going F-35 tanker qualification testing. Of the four aircraft his squadron flies, Spinelli already had extensive F-16 flight time; he finished Undergraduate Pilot Training in the T-38; and he had picked up hours in the C-12 during Test Pilot School. He went through an accelerated transition course to qualify in the KC-135.

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