Flight Test Museum

[Flight Test Museum @AFFTMuseum]

The Flight Test Museum Foundation has teamed up with award-winning photographer Jim Krantz @jimkrantzphoto and architecture and design firm Gensler to bring the breathtaking conceptual design for the museum to life!

[NASA @NASA]

Planning is underway for our Artemis III mission, which will test the capabilities of NASA's Orion spacecraft and one or both commercial landers from @BlueOrigin and @SpaceX as they meet and dock in Earth's orbit. Details: https://t.co/qzH3spgNyK

[NASA Artemis @NASAArtemis]

Earth looks different from over 250,000 miles away.

Using optical communications, NASA was able to receive high-definition photos and videos during the Artemis II mission while the radio frequency communications focused on mission-critical data. https://t.co/UvL9XOTNGR

[Flight Test Museum @AFFTMuseum]

The results validated existing data from wind tunnels and both sets of data were then available for use in designing new aircraft like the F-100 and F-102! The three Skystreaks flew a total of 229 times from 1947 to 1953.

[Flight Test Museum @AFFTMuseum]

On April 14th, 1947, the D-558-I took its first flight! Among the early transonic research airplanes, the Skystreaks set two world speed records.

Read more below⬇️

#flighttest #flighttesthistory #testpliot #flighttestengineer #aerospaceengineer #aerospace #aviation #firstflight

[Flight Test Museum @AFFTMuseum]

The goal of the program was to research how a straight-wing configuration would perform in the lower third of the transonic speed range.

[NASA @NASA]

New photos from the Moon!

We're continuing to unveil new images from the Artemis II mission—including these two photos from April 6, showing a crescent Earthrise and a closeup of the lunar farside. Keep up with the latest: https://t.co/rzM1P0QbOl

[Flight Test Museum @AFFTMuseum]

#flighttesthistory #testpliots #flighttestengineer #aerospaceengineer #aerospace #aviation #firstflights

[Flight Test Museum @AFFTMuseum]

On March 9th, 1971, the F-8 SCW took its first flight! NASA selected a Vought F-8A Crusader to test the Supercritical Wing (SCW). They were testing a wing design that reduced the effect of shock waves on the upper surface when reaching Mach 1, essentially reducing drag.

More⬇️

[Flight Test Museum @AFFTMuseum]

A couple of years later, the designer of the SCW, Dr. Whitcomb, was able to modify his design to meet the needs for both near-sonic transport and fuel efficiency by using thicker airfoil sections and a reduced wing sweepback. This design is now commonly used!

#flighttest

[NASA @NASA]

Hello, Moon. It’s great to be back.

Here’s a taste of what the Artemis II astronauts photographed during their flight around the Moon. Check out more photos from the mission: https://t.co/rzM1P0QbOl

[Flight Test Museum @AFFTMuseum]

Catch it another time: April 1, 2026 @ 2:00 a.m. or April 12, 2026 @ 5:00 p.m. We'll keep you posted when it streams!

[Flight Test Museum @AFFTMuseum]

Tonight's the night! Exciting news! The Flight Test Historical Foundation co-produced a new documentary on the Aerospace Valley and Flight Test with KLCS | PBS Los Angeles. Tune in on KLCS/PBS Channel 58 in So Cal at 7:00 p.m.

#flighttest #aviation #aviationdocuementary

[Flight Test Museum @AFFTMuseum]

1964 with a total of 1,261 built in both fighter and photo reconnaissance versions.

#flighttest #flighttesthistory #testpliots #flighttestengineer #aerospaceengineer #aerospace #aviation #firstflights

[Flight Test Museum @AFFTMuseum]

On March 25th, 1955, John William Konrad took the XF8U for its first flight! The Crusader was able to maintain supersonic speeds and was the first fighter aircraft to exceed 1,000 mph in level flight.

Read more below⬇️

[Flight Test Museum @AFFTMuseum]

The testing of the Crusader went so well that just six months after the prototypes release, the first production plane (F8U-1) made its first flight. Known to be the last American fighter designed with guns as the primary armament, the Vought F8U Crusader was in production until-

[Flight Test Museum @AFFTMuseum]

February 28th was a popular day in aviation history!

✈️February 28th, 1946: The Republic Aviation XP-84 took its first flight.

✈️February 28th, 1998: The Northrop Grumman RQ-4A took its first flight.

#flighttest #flighttesthistory #testpliots #flighttestengineer

[Flight Test Museum @AFFTMuseum]

This week in aviation history:

✈️1-2. February 16th, 1952, the YRF-84F took its first flight!
✈️3. February 17th, 1956, the YF-104A took its first flight!
✈️4. February 18th, 1977, the STS/SCA 747/Shuttle Combo took its first flight!

#flighttest #flighttesthistory

[Flight Test Museum @AFFTMuseum]

the Flight Test Historical Foundation to build our current museum. We need to expand, and the Foundation is helping the museum again!
#aviationlovers #aviationhistory #flighttest #flighttestengineer #ChuckYeager #soundbarrier #stemeducation

[Flight Test Museum @AFFTMuseum]

For all of you aviation enthusiasts, friends and fans of the Bell X-1, the documentary of the Quest for MACH One will premier on YouTube! Join us February 11, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. EST for the Premier!
Check out our launch party here:��https://t.co/baA8eSBHOi

Read more below⬇️

[Flight Test Museum @AFFTMuseum]

Featuring exclusive interviews with: Chuck Yeager, Bob Hoover, Bob Cardenas, Walt Williams, Mac McKendry, James Young, PhD, and Jack Russell. Originally produced by Dana Marcotte Kilanowski and Atwood Keeney Productions, all proceeds were donated -