418th Flight Test Squadron
| 418th Flight Test Squadron | |
|---|---|
418th Flight Test Squadron MC-130 Combat Talon II
418th Flight Test Squadron - Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker 61-0320 landing after making first ever successful air-to-air refueling with an F-35 Mar 12, 2008. |
|
| Active | 1 June 1942 - Present |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Flight Testing |
| Part of |
 Air Force Materiel Command
|
| Garrison/HQ | Edwards Air Force Base, California |
| Tail Code | "ED" |
| Decorations |
 DUC FCdG w/ Palm
|
| Insignia | |
| 418th Flight Test Squadron emblem |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Multirole helicopter | CV-22 Osprey |
| Transport | C-130 Hercules and special operations variants |
| Tanker | KC-135 Stratotanker and special variants |
418th Flight Test Squadron McDonnell Douglas YC-17A Lot I Globemaster III 87-0025 c/n T-1, essentially hand-built in 1990 as the first USAF C-17. Aircraft planned for retirement to USAF Museum in 2012. Arrived there Apr 25, 2012.
The 418th Flight Test Squadron (418 FTS) is a United States Air Force squadron. It is assigned to the 412th Operations Group, Air Force Materiel Command, stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
The 418th FLTS performs flight testing on the C-5, C17, KC-10, KC-46, KC-135, and partner nation airlift and air refueling aircraft.
Established as a B-17 Flying Fortress reconnaissance squadron in January 1942; redesignated as a heavy bomb squadron in April and activated in June. Trained initially under Third Air Force in the southeast; transferring to Second Air Force in the Pacific Northwest. Operated as an Operational Training Unit (OTU) in the Midwest until being deployed to the European Theater of Operations (ETO), being assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England in June 1949.
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Wikipedia