KRWG News – HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (krwg) Five Air Force captains based at Holloman Air Force Base are headed to test pilot school at California's Edwards Air Force Base.
Air Force Col. Raymond Toth says the pilots will spend a year at Edwards learning the skills necessary to operate the next generation of weapons systems.
The Alamogordo Daily News reports pilots, navigators and engineers attend the school to learn how to conduct flight tests and generate information needed to carry out test missions.
Air Force pilot Capt. William Keichel says testing and evaluation is done to ensure the Air Force does not go to war without knowing if its weapons systems work effectively and safely.
Toth likened being a test pilot to that of a NASCAR driver who has to relay to his pit crew how the car is handling.
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Information from: Alamogordo Daily News, http://www.alamogordonews.com
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. krwg