PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID TULLAHOMA TN Vol. 68, No. 13 Arnold AFB, Tenn. PERMIT NO. 29 July 6, 2021 AEDC celebrates 70 years with open house By Jill Pickett AEDC Public Affairs The AEDC “Hap Arnold Day” 70th Anniversary Celebration Open House on June 26 afforded members of the com- munity a rare opportunity to see behind the fence and learn about the contribu- tions the men and women of Arnold En- gineering Development Complex have made to national defense and the ad- vancement of technology. AEDC, headquartered at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., was dedicated on June 25, 1951, by President Harry Tru- man and named after five-star General of the Air Force Henry ‘Hap’ Arnold. Since then, organizations and loca- tions have been added to AEDC bring- ing the total number of test cells, fa- cilities and offices operated nationwide Lt. Col. Justin Tolliver, director of operations, Space Test Branch, Test Division, Arnold Engineering Development by AEDC personnel to 68, with more Complex, talks about the J-6 Large Rocket Motor Test Facility to an attendee of the AEDC “Hap Arnold Day” 70th An- niversary Celebration Open House, June 26 at Arnold Air Force Base. In the background is the test cell of J-6, used to See OPEN HOUSE, page 2 test solid rocket motors, such as those in the Minuteman III ICBMs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jill Pickett) Flyover debuts new paint scheme for 586 FLTS jet Six selected to be AEDC Fellows By Arnold Community Council TULLAHOMA, Tenn. - The Arnold Community Council AEDC Fellows Committee is pleased to announce that six individuals who have made exceptionally significant long-term contributions to the advancement of aerospace ground test- ing technology and capabilities at the Ar- nold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), headquartered at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., have been selected as 2021 AEDC Fellows. Dr. Ralph Jones, Alan Milhoan and the late Maj. Gen. Leif Sverdrup have been selected to be honored as AEDC Techni- cal Fellows. Ron Wood has been selected to be honored as an AEDC Craft Fellow. Maurice May and the late Hugh Hor- A T-38 Talon is flown over Arnold Air Force Base by Airmen of the 586th Flight Test Squadron, 704th Test Group, rocks have been selected as AEDC Life- Arnold Engineering Development Complex, during a flag retreat ceremony after the AEDC “Hap Arnold Day” 70th time Achievement Fellows. Anniversary June 26. The aircraft was flown by Lt. Col. Alex “Cuda” Wolfard and Maj. Ali “Axle” Hamidani. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jill Pickett) Maj. Gen. Leif Sverdrup By Bradley Hicks headquarters at Arnold Air Force Base while showing our pride,” said Lt. Col. Maj. Gen. Sverdrup’s original leader- AEDC Public Affairs during a retreat ceremony June 26. Scott Pontzer, 586 FLTS director of op- ship regarding the fabrication of the in- The new paint scheme for the 586 erations. “With it being the 70th anniver- frastructure at AEDC was not limited to The timing couldn’t have been better. FLTS jet commemorates the 70th anni- sary, it seems appropriate to leverage this the utilities, facilities and modalities of It just so happened that one of the versary of the AFTC, which was estab- timing and opportunity and make a con- the then Center. He also established the T-38 jets flown by the 586th Flight Test lished on June 25, 1951, the same date nection between the two.” pay and benefits structure to attract and Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base, President Harry Truman visited Arnold The 586 FLTS is part of the Holloman retain high-tech talent to (at that time) a New Mexico, was in need of a new paint AFB to dedicate the AEDC. AFB-headquartered 704th Test Group, more remote location in Tennessee which job as the 70th anniversary of both the Air “I thought this would be a great time which is a unit of AEDC. AEDC is a unit proved enormously successful. He was Force Test Center and Arnold Engineer- to get the jet painted in a unique way to of the AFTC. personally involved in quickly mediat- ing Development Complex approached. celebrate our mission, improve morale The dark and light grey paint that pre- It also happened that this aircraft was and spark conversation with our custom- See FELLOWS, page 3 set to take to the skies over the AEDC ers about our capabilities and heritage See FLYOVER, page 11 AEDC Commander applauds community STEM event By Bradley Hicks with top prizes going to those The event also featured a AEDC Public Affairs whose planes flew the farthest digital flight simulator, provid- from the launch line. Students ing attendees a risk-free way to To coincide with the Ar- taking part were allowed prac- take a crack at navigating an RC nold Engineering Development tice throws before making of- plane. Those present also had Complex 70th anniversary cel- ficial tosses, allowing them the opportunity to take control ebration at Arnold Air Force to do a little problem-solving of an actual RC plane with as- Base, the Coffee Airfoilers and make modifications to sistance from Coffee Airfoilers Model RC Club invited young- their planes in the pursuit of Club instructors. sters in the community to come maximum distance. On hand for the event was out and try their hand at flight. Don Cleveland, Coffee Air- 16-year-old Nicholas Amelang, The club hosted a children’s foilers president, said the event who cut his teeth at the Coffee airplane toss competition June was intended to boost interest in Airfoilers Field and is now a 26 at Coffee Airfoilers Field. the remote control, or RC, hob- national RC champion. The lo- This event was held to pro- by and introduce the children to cal teen recently took first place Miland Bonner, left, Bryce Spencer, center and Brandon Prince mote science, technology, en- fields they could potentially pur- in the intermediate division at give their balsa wood planes a toss during a June 26 event gineering and mathematics, or sue as careers. hosted by the Coffee Airfoilers Model RC Club to coincide with STEM, among its participants. “We hope that the kids get See STEM, page 3 the Arnold Engineering Development Complex 70th anniver- The competitors assembled awareness of not only RC but of sary celebration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Bradley Hicks) small balsa wood airplanes, aeronautics in general,” he said. Prahl charged with leading Allen undertakes 26.3-mile Space Test Branch hike to fulfill a wish …Page 2 …Page 4 2 • July 6, 2021 Arnold Air Force Base Col. Jeffrey Geraghty Commander Jason Austin Chief, Public Affairs Richard Tighe General Manager, National Aerospace Solutions High Mach Staff: Kathy Jacobsen, NAS Executive Editor Jill Pickett NAS Editor High Mach is published by Lakeway Publishers, Inc. a pri- vate firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, Arnold Air Force Base, Arnold Engi- neering Development Complex (AEDC) or National Aerospace Solutions (NAS), under exclu- Prahl charged with leading Space Test Branch sive written contract with NAS at Arnold AFB, Tenn., 37389. Col. Lincoln Bonner, left, chief of the Arnold Engineering Development Complex Test Division, passes the guidon to incoming Everything advertised in Space Test Branch chief, Lt. Col. Dayvid Prahl, after leadership of the Branch was relinquished by Lt. Col. Adam Quick, right, this publication will be made during a Change of Leadership ceremony June 24 at Arnold Lakeside Complex at Arnold Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo available for purchase, use by Jill Pickett) or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital sta- tus, physical handicap, political OPEN HOUSE from page 1 affiliation or any other non- merit factor of the purchaser, under construction. user or patron. “Arnold Air Force Base and The High Mach office is Arnold Engineering Develop- located at 100 Kindel Drive, ment Complex are really central Suite A236, Arnold AFB, Tenn. 37389-1236. Editorial content to the way that we develop air and is edited and prepared by NAS. space power for the nation,” said Deadline for copy is Wednes- Col. Lincoln Bonner, chief, Test day at close of business one Division, AEDC. “Nearly every week before publication. high-performance aircraft and This commercial enterprise newspaper is an allowable missile since 1951 in operation NAS contractor publication today in the Army, Navy, Ma- for personnel at Arnold AFB. rine Corps and United States Air The content of High Mach Force has part of its roots here does not necessarily reflect the views of the Air Force, Arnold at Arnold Air Force Base. And AFB, AEDC or NAS. The ap- that’s not something that most of pearance of advertising in this the public gets to know or gets publication does not constitute to see. Having the opportunity to endorsement of the products share that with the community, or services advertised by the Department of Defense, the to let them know how important Department of the Air Force, the workforce here is to the na- Arnold AFB, AEDC, NAS or tion, helps us better communi- Lakeway Publishers, Inc. cate and just say ‘thank you’ to For general information about High Mach, call (931) the community for all that they 454-5655 or visit www. do to help support us. Certainly, arnold.af.mil. we are here to support the nation, Use High Mach to mar- but the community, the American ket your products and taxpayers, the citizens, they’re services. Contact Joe at 931-455-4545 or jmartin@ the ones who provide for all of tullahomanews.com this; and they should know just how valuable it really is and ev- erything that it’s done to support our national defense.” During the open house, at- Kirk Butler, right, director of operations, Ground Test Team, Hypersonic Systems Test Branch, Test Division, tendees drove along a pre- Arnold Engineering Development Complex, and Maj.