C. Gordon Fullerton

C. Gordon Fullerton is a research pilot at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, California. His assignments include a variety of flight research and support activities piloting NASA's B-52 launch aircraft, the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), and other multi-engine and high performance aircraft.

Related Topics:
NASA - Dryden Flight Research Facility - Edwards, California - B-52 - 747 - Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

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Fullerton, who logged more than 380 hours in space flight, was a NASA astronaut from September 1969 until November 1986 when he joined the research pilot office at Dryden. In July 1988, he completed a 30-year career with the U.S. Air Force and retired as a Colonel. He continues in his position of research pilot as a civilian.

Related Topics:
U.S. Air Force - Colonel

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As project pilot on the B-52 launch aircraft, Fullerton is involved in tests to develop a new F-111 crew module recovery system, and air launching the commercially developed Pegasus space vehicle.

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Fullerton also serves as project pilot on the NASA/Convair 990 aircraft which has been modified as a Landing Systems Research Aircraft to test space shuttle landing gear components.

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Additionally, Fullerton is also project pilot on F-18 Systems Research Aircraft, a testbed to develop new flight control actuators, fiber optic control systems, and other advanced aircraft technology.

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As the project pilot on the Propulsion Controlled Aircraft program, he successfully landed an F-15 with all control surfaces fixed, using only engine thrust modulation for control. The project continues with the goal of flight testing a similar system in an MD-11 transport.

Related Topics:
F-15 - MD-11

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In addition to these current activities, Fulleton has been project pilot on a number of other research programs at Dryden. Among them were the C-140 Jetstar Laminar Flow Control, F-111 Mission Adaptive Wing, F-14 Variable Sweep Flow Transition, space shuttle orbiter drag chute and F-111 crew module parachute tests with the B-52, and X-29 vortex flow control.

Related Topics:
C-140 - F-14 - X-29

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With over 13,000 hours of flying time, Fullerton has piloted 114 different types of aircraft, including full qualification in the T-33, T-34, T-37, T-39, F-86, F-101, F-106, F-111, F-14, X-29, KC-135, C-140, B-47.

Related Topics:
T-33 - T-34 - T-37 - T-39 - F-86 - F-101 - F-106 - KC-135 - B-47

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Since joining Dryden as a research pilot, Fullerton has piloted nearly all the research and support aircraft flown at the facility and currently flies the T-38, F-18, F-15, B-52, the NASA/Conair 990, 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, and the DC-8.

Related Topics:
F-15 - DC-8

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Born October 11, 1936, in Rochester, New York, Fullerton graduated from U.S. Grant High School, Portland, Oregon. He received Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, in 1957 and 1958, respectively.

Related Topics:
Rochester, New York - Portland, Oregon

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Fullerton entered the U.S. Air Force in July 1958 after working as a mechanical design engineer for Hughes Aircraft Co., Culver City, California.

Related Topics:
Hughes Aircraft - Culver City, California

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After primary and basic flight school he was trained as an F-86 interceptor pilot, and later became a B-47 bomber pilot at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ. In 1964 he was chosen to attend the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School (now the Air Force Test Pilot School), Edwards Air Force Base, CA. Upon graduation he was assigned as a test pilot with the Bomber Operations Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH. In 1966, Fullerton was selected for and served as a flight crew member for the Air Force Manned Orbiting Laboratory program until its termination in 1969.

Related Topics:
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base - Edwards Air Force Base - Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

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After assignment to the NASA Johnson Space Center, as an astronaut Fullerton served on the support crews for the Apollo 14, 15, 16 and 17 lunar missions.

Related Topics:
Apollo 14 - 15 - 16 - 17

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