Richard E. Gray
Encyclopedia
Richard Eben Gray was a Naval aviator for the United States Navy
, and latterly a research test pilot. He was born March 11, 1945 in Newport News, Virginia. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from San Jose State University
in 1969 on a scholarship from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots
(SETP), of which his father, William E. Gray, had been a member. Richard himself became a member of SETP in the mid-1970s and served on the SETP Board of Directors as Southwest Section Technical Adviser in 1981/1982.
He joined the United States Navy
in July 1969 and earned his wings in January 1971. He was assigned to fly F-4 Phantoms at Naval Air Station Miramar, and in 1972 he flew 48 combat missions in F-4s in Vietnam
while assigned to VF-111
aboard the USS Coral Sea
. After making a second cruise in 1973, Dick was assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Four (VX-4
) at NAS Pt. Mugu
, as a project pilot on various operational test and evaluation programs. He served as chief test director for the AIM-7F
Sparrow in 1975-76 before being assigned as an F-14A project pilot on the Air Combat Evaluation/Intercept Missile Evaluation (ACEVAL/AIMVAL) program. He was also the chief test director for the operational test and evaluation of the television sight unit and the dual-seat visual-target-acquisition system in the F-14A. In 1978 he was assigned back to VF-111 at NAS Miramar as an F-14A pilot.
Later in 1978 he became an aerospace research pilot at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Whilst at the Johnson Space Center he was chief project pilot on the WB-57F
high-altitude research project and served as the prime television chase pilot on the T-38
for the landing portion of the Space Shuttle
orbital flight tests performed by the Space Shuttle Enterprise
.
In November 1981 he became a research test pilot at NASA
's Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility (as Dryden Flight Research Center
, Edwards
, California, was called from 1981 to 1994). There, he was a pilot on the F-14
Aileron Rudder Interconnect project, the NASA AD-1
Oblique wing
research aircraft, and the F-8
Digital Fly-By-Wire
project. He also flew the F-104
, T-37
, and F-15
airplanes.
On November 8, 1982, he was fatally injured in a T-37B jet aircraft while making a proficiency flight, the aircraft crashing after entering a spin.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, and latterly a research test pilot. He was born March 11, 1945 in Newport News, Virginia. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
in 1969 on a scholarship from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots
Society of Experimental Test Pilots
The Society of Experimental Test Pilots is an international organization that seeks to promote air safety and contributes to aeronautical advancement by promoting sound aeronautical design and development; interchanging ideas, thoughts and suggestions of the members, assisting in the professional...
(SETP), of which his father, William E. Gray, had been a member. Richard himself became a member of SETP in the mid-1970s and served on the SETP Board of Directors as Southwest Section Technical Adviser in 1981/1982.
He joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in July 1969 and earned his wings in January 1971. He was assigned to fly F-4 Phantoms at Naval Air Station Miramar, and in 1972 he flew 48 combat missions in F-4s in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
while assigned to VF-111
VF-111
Fighter Squadron 111 , also known as the Sundowners, was the designation held by two U.S. Navy fighter squadrons from 1942 to 1995. The first squadron, initially designated VF-11, served as an active Pacific Fleet Fighter Squadron until its disestablishment in 1959. At that time, another squadron...
aboard the USS Coral Sea
USS Coral Sea (CV-43)
USS Coral Sea , a , was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the Battle of the Coral Sea. She earned the affectionate nickname "Ageless Warrior" through her long career...
. After making a second cruise in 1973, Dick was assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Four (VX-4
VX-4
VX-4, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Four, , commonly referred to by its nickname, The Evaluators) was a United States Navy air test and evaluation squadron based at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California...
) at NAS Pt. Mugu
Point Mugu, California
Point Mugu , California is an unincorporated area and geographical promontory on the Pacific coast in Ventura County, near the town of Port Hueneme and the city of Oxnard. The name is believed to be derived from the Chumash Indian term Muwu, meaning beach, which was first mentioned by Cabrillo in...
, as a project pilot on various operational test and evaluation programs. He served as chief test director for the AIM-7F
AIM-7 Sparrow
The AIM-7 Sparrow is an American, medium-range semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile operated by the United States Air Force, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, as well as various allied air forces and navies. Sparrow and its derivatives were the West's principal beyond visual...
Sparrow in 1975-76 before being assigned as an F-14A project pilot on the Air Combat Evaluation/Intercept Missile Evaluation (ACEVAL/AIMVAL) program. He was also the chief test director for the operational test and evaluation of the television sight unit and the dual-seat visual-target-acquisition system in the F-14A. In 1978 he was assigned back to VF-111 at NAS Miramar as an F-14A pilot.
Later in 1978 he became an aerospace research pilot at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Whilst at the Johnson Space Center he was chief project pilot on the WB-57F
B-57 Canberra
The Martin B-57 Canberra was a United States-built, twin jet engine light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, which entered service with the United States Air Force in 1953. The B-57 was initially a version of the English Electric Canberra built under license. However, the Glenn L...
high-altitude research project and served as the prime television chase pilot on the T-38
T-38 Talon
The Northrop T-38 Talon is a twin-engine supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first supersonic trainer and is also the most produced. The T-38 remains in service as of 2011 in air forces throughout the world....
for the landing portion of the Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
orbital flight tests performed by the Space Shuttle Enterprise
Space Shuttle Enterprise
The Space Shuttle Enterprise was the first Space Shuttle orbiter. It was built for NASA as part of the Space Shuttle program to perform test flights in the atmosphere. It was constructed without engines or a functional heat shield, and was therefore not capable of spaceflight...
.
In November 1981 he became a research test pilot at NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility (as Dryden Flight Research Center
Dryden Flight Research Center
The Dryden Flight Research Center , located inside Edwards Air Force Base, is an aeronautical research center operated by NASA. On March 26, 1976 it was named in honor of the late Hugh L. Dryden, a prominent aeronautical engineer who at the time of his death in 1965 was NASA's deputy administrator...
, Edwards
Edwards
-Places:*Edwards County *Edwards Islet of Ducie Island-Australia:*Edwards Beach, New South Wales*Edwards Islet, Tasmania-United States:*Edwards, Arkansas*Edwards, California*Edwards, Colorado*Edwards, Illinois*Edwards, Kentucky...
, California, was called from 1981 to 1994). There, he was a pilot on the F-14
F-14 Tomcat
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental program following the collapse of the F-111B project...
Aileron Rudder Interconnect project, the NASA AD-1
NASA AD-1
-References:CitationsBibliography* AD-1 Construction Completed, Dryden X-Press, Feb. 23, 1979, p. 2.* Robert E. Curry and Alex G. Sim, In-Flight Total Forces, Moments, and Static Aeroelastic Characteristics of an Oblique-Wing Research Airplane * Robert E. Curry and Alexander G...
Oblique wing
Oblique wing
An oblique wing is a variable geometry wing concept. On an aircraft so equipped, the wing is designed to rotate on center pivot, so that one tip is swept forward while the opposite tip is swept aft...
research aircraft, and the F-8
F-8 Crusader
The Vought F-8 Crusader was a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass...
Digital Fly-By-Wire
Aircraft flight control systems
A conventional fixed-wing aircraft flight control system consists of flight control surfaces, the respective cockpit controls, connecting linkages, and the necessary operating mechanisms to control an aircraft's direction in flight...
project. He also flew the F-104
F-104 Starfighter
The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft originally developed for the United States Air Force by Lockheed. One of the Century Series of aircraft, it served with the USAF from 1958 until 1969, and continued with Air National Guard units...
, T-37
Cessna T-37
The Cessna T-37 Tweet is a small, economical twin-engine jet trainer-attack type aircraft which flew for decades as a primary trainer for the United States Air Force and in the air forces of several other nations...
, and F-15
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
airplanes.
On November 8, 1982, he was fatally injured in a T-37B jet aircraft while making a proficiency flight, the aircraft crashing after entering a spin.