Happy day...

[flateric]

Please don't look at this as example of my vanity - just wanted to share my happiness of recently becoming acquainted with such remarkable man.

 

[elmayerle]

Yes, he is. I got his signature on a first flight pic of the YF-23 when I was at Northrop; then got to talk with him a couple times during F-35 briefing sessions where he went over the Joint Test Force that he headed,

 

[Sundog]

That is so cool! Way to go Flateric! Thanks for sharing it.

Is Metz a test pilot on the F-35? He was on the production F-22, wasn't he? Between him and Beesley (Sp?), I'll bet they could tell us some stories if they didn't have to kill us aftwerward.

 

[flateric]

Paul Metz iz 61 now...he retired at the beginning of 2006 - his last rank in Lockheed Martin was VP and JSF director of integrated test force . Surely he has many things to tell, but surely not to guy from Russia)

 

[flateric]

For example, I'd ask him what PAV-1 actually carried in its weapons bay. Never would ask for his comparison between YF-23 and F-22.

 

[Sundog]

I didn't know he retired. Also, of course you could have asked about which he preferred the YF-23 or YF-22, but he probably would have replied that he is one of the few pilots that was lucky enough (and good enough) to fly both.

 

[flateric]

Think that Metz signed a while of these photos after a maiden flight day...and some time before))

 

[Sundog]

I remember when the artists renderings were released of the ATF prototypes, like the one shown in your first pic. At first glance, I remember thinking, the butterfly tail and chines are obviously the Lockheed design and the FAT F-18 is obviously Northrop's. Then I read the article and noticed I had it backwards. I was expecting something radically cool from the Skunk Works. Oh well.

Cool pics, the bottom one is my favorite.

 

[zebedee]

You've just reminded me... my ex has my photo of the tsr2 signed by Jimmy Dell...! I'll never forget meeting him.. he kept going on about what a terrible picture they (BAE i think) had chosen....

Zeb