B-1B Lancer testing Background In November 1979, the Air Force began a study for a modified version of an existing airframe to carry
air launched cruise missiles, called the Long-Range Combat Aircraft (LRCA). On 2 October 1981, President
Ronald Reagan announced a Strategic Modernization Program, which would include the procurement of 100 (LRCA). The
Rockwell International proposal for the LRCA was a modified B-1A, which was designated the B-1B Lancer. The first B-1B incorporated several sub-assemblies of the No. 5 B-1A, which has been under construction when the B-1A program was cancelled. Rockwell test pilots flew it for the first time on 31 October 1984, from the
Rockwell International assembly plant at
Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California, landing at
Edwards Air Force Base, California. The B-1B was ready for delivery to
Strategic Air Command barely eight months after its first flight.
F-117A Nighthawk testing Background In November 1978, the preliminary testing of the
Have Blue stealth aircraft was successfully completed, and during November 1978,
Lockheed Corporation was awarded a contract to begin full-scale development of the project. The program was given the code name Senior Trend. In 1980, the Senior Trend Joint (later Combined) Test Force was established at
Area 51 consisting of a combination of Lockheed and USAF personnel as an acceptance test unit for newly manufactured aircraft. Air Force Systems Command personnel participating in the test were assigned to Air Force Flight Test Center, Detachment 3. In June 1981, the first Senior Trend test aircraft was delivered for testing and on 18 June 1981 the first successful flight was made by a Lockheed test pilot. There were usually four to six test flights (about half contractor and half USAF) for acceptance. They included systems checks, handling qualities evaluations, and low observable radar verifications. All flights of the aircraft were made at night without lights and the runway was only briefly illuminated to facilitate landings and takeoffs.
Reactivation The squadron was redesignated the
410th Test and Evaluation Squadron and activated at
Beale Air Force Base, California on 1 October 2021. ==Lineage==