486th Flight Test Squadron

{{short description|US Air Force unit}}

{{Use American English|date=July 2019}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = 486th Flight Test Squadron

| image = Boeing C-32B, United States - US Air Force (USAF) JP6248406.jpg

| image_size = 300

| alt = Boeing C-32B 24452 parked at Luxembourg Airport during May 2008.

| caption = Boeing C-32B 24452 parked at Luxembourg Airport during May 2008.

| dates = 1995–present

| disbanded =

| country = {{flag|United States|23px}}

| countries =

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| branch = {{air force|USA}}

| type = Flying squadron

| role = Special operations

| size = Two aircraft

| command_structure =

| garrison = Eglin AFB, Florida

| garrison_label = Home base

| nickname =

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| motto = Non semper ea sunt quae videntur
(Latin: Not always what they seem)

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| identification_symbol = 165px

| identification_symbol_label = 486th Test Flight Squadron emblem{{cn|date=August 2022}}

| aircraft_transport = Boeing C-32B Gatekeeper

}}

The 486th Flight Test Squadron is a secretive United States Air Force unit with a misleading designation, assigned to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, {{cite web |url=https://www.afsoc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/163329/pacific-air-commandos-get-new-commander/ |title=Pacific Air Commandos get new commander |last=Holliday |first=Marilyn |date= June 11, 2007|website=Air Force Special Operations Command |access-date=May 12, 2023|quote=Colonel Mullins is a command pilot with more than 6,500 flying hours and he has commanded the 486th Flight Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and has held staff duty positions at AFSOC and the Pentagon}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthspin.com/page_units.html|title=The North Spin - Aircraft Flight Test Units|website=www.thenorthspin.com}} which is associated with activities of the U.S. State Department Foreign Emergency Support Team and Central Intelligence Agency Special Activities Center. The squadron motto is "Non semper ea sunt quae videntur" which translates as "Not always what they seem".{{Cite web |url=https://usafpatches.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=14202 |title=486th Flight Test Squadron |access-date=5 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305040057/http://www.usafpatches.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=181&pid=14202#top_display_media |archive-date=5 March 2017 |url-status=live |website=USAFpatches.com}} It is currently assigned to the 96th Test Wing,{{cn|date=August 2022}} and operates a pair of Boeing C-32B Gatekeeper aircraft,{{cite web|url=http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/2002.html|title=2002 USAF Serial Numbers|website=www.joebaugher.com}}{{not in source|date=August 2022}} on stand-by alert for special operations and intelligence missions world-wide.{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/marcambinder/secret-armies-an-exclusive-look-at-10-secret-us|title=Secret Armies: An Exclusive Look At 10 Secret U.S. Forces|first=Marc|last=Ambinder|website=BuzzFeed}}{{Unreliable source?|date=August 2022}} Official documents make it clear that operations fall under the aegis of Air Force Special Operations Command.{{cite web |url=http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a3_5/publication/afi11-2c-32bv3/afi11-2c-32bv3.pdf |title=Air Force Instruction 11-2C-32B, Volume 3 |access-date=2014-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219084721/http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a3_5/publication/afi11-2c-32bv3/afi11-2c-32bv3.pdf |archive-date=2014-12-19 |url-status=dead }} Of the two C-32B craft in existence, the 486th appears to fly the more clandestine craft, or on more clandestine missions, as the other operator of the C-32B, the 150th Special Operations Squadron of the New Jersey Air National Guard, denies the existence of a second aircraft and makes no mention of the 486th in public or internal documentation.