Phil Oestricher
{{short description|American test pilot}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Philip F. Oestricher
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| birth_date = 1931
| death_date = {{Death date and given age|2015|12|18|84}}
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| death_place = Fort Worth, Texas, United States
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| branch = United States Marine Corps
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Philip F. Oestricher (1931 – December 18, 2015) was an American aerodynamics engineer and test pilot.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.codeonemagazine.com/news_item.html?item_id=1499 |title=In Memoriam - Philip F. Oestricher, Test Pilot |date=December 22, 2015 |magazine=Code One |volume=31 |issue=1 |publisher=Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company |access-date=August 16, 2021}} He made both the unscheduled first flight of the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon on January 20, 1974 and its official first flight on February 2, 1974.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.codeonemagazine.com/article.html?item_id=158 |last=Stout |first=Joe |title=What A Wonderful Airplane: YF-16 First Flight |magazine=Code One |year=1992 |volume=7 |issue=3 |publisher=Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company |access-date=16 August 2021}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a30645599/f-16-first-flight/ |last=Mizokami |first=Kyle |title=That Time When the F-16 Accidentally Had Its First Flight |date=January 23, 2020 |magazine=Popular Mechanics |access-date=August 16, 2021}}
Career
Oestricher worked at Consolidated Vultee as an aerodynamics engineer on the B-36 bomber. He later served in the United States Marine Corps, where he flew the F4D Skyray. As a test pilot, Oestricher flew all models of the F-111 fighter-bomber.
On January 20, 1974, Oestricher piloted the unscheduled first flight of the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon at Edwards Air Force Base, California. While performing high-speed ground tests, Oestricher nearly lost control of the aircraft when it entered a series of roll oscillations. Oestricher elected to take the craft airborne to avoid crashing and remained in flight for six minutes. Oestricher also piloted the F-16's official first flight on February 2, 1974. He contributed to the development of multiple versions of the F-16 and established F-16 safety protocols.
=Death=
Oestricher died in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 18, 2015, at the age of 84.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAp4RtGKbHE |title=Memorable Moment - YF-16 Test Pilot Phil Oestricher |publisher=Lockheed Martin |date=April 4, 2012 |access-date=August 16, 2021}}
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Category:American aerospace engineers
Category:United States Naval Aviators
Category:United States Naval Test Pilot School alumni
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