Former 53-55 NCRS Team Leader LTCOL Dave Ferguson USAF (retired) was inducted into the Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame last Saturday evening for his contributions to aviation as a test pilot, often flying from the infamous Area 51. In addition to members of his family, NCRS members Ed Hoffman and I attended the dinner and induction ceremony in Henderson, NV. Unfortunately Ferg passed away last year and was not with us.
Ferg moved among us in a quiet, friendly, unassuming manner. So many of you that knew him may not have been aware of his background in aviation and his extreme bravery.
Ferg flew over 100 missions in the F-105 over Viet Nam in the heavily defended Hanoi corridor. Many of those were extraordinarily dangerous flights in the Wild Weasel variant which flew alone ahead of the others to counteract enemy radar which guided the SAMs and AAA.
After the war he became a test pilot flying the U-2 high altitude reconnaisance jet, F-4E, F-105B and many others. He also tested captured enemy aircraft to determine their capabilities and the best ways to defeat them.
Upon retiring from the Air Force he went to work as a test pilot for the Lockheed Skunk Works. He was the second person to fly the F-117 stealth fighter and logged over 500 test flights in that airframe. He was the first pilot to fly the F-22 Raptor, the newest USAF stealth fighter. Since that aircraft is the first to have vectored thrust it was an unusually risky venture due to the unfamiliar flight characteristics.
Throughout his career he logged over 6500 flight hours in 60 different types of aircraft. In 1999 he retired as the Director of Flight Operations for the Skunk Works.
His military awards include 2 Legion of Merit medals for classified flight operations, 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and 8 Air Medals.
Ferg's loves were his wife Jan, flying and C1 Corvettes. He was the nicest, most helpful person I've ever met and he truly had the Right Stuff.
Ferg moved among us in a quiet, friendly, unassuming manner. So many of you that knew him may not have been aware of his background in aviation and his extreme bravery.
Ferg flew over 100 missions in the F-105 over Viet Nam in the heavily defended Hanoi corridor. Many of those were extraordinarily dangerous flights in the Wild Weasel variant which flew alone ahead of the others to counteract enemy radar which guided the SAMs and AAA.
After the war he became a test pilot flying the U-2 high altitude reconnaisance jet, F-4E, F-105B and many others. He also tested captured enemy aircraft to determine their capabilities and the best ways to defeat them.
Upon retiring from the Air Force he went to work as a test pilot for the Lockheed Skunk Works. He was the second person to fly the F-117 stealth fighter and logged over 500 test flights in that airframe. He was the first pilot to fly the F-22 Raptor, the newest USAF stealth fighter. Since that aircraft is the first to have vectored thrust it was an unusually risky venture due to the unfamiliar flight characteristics.
Throughout his career he logged over 6500 flight hours in 60 different types of aircraft. In 1999 he retired as the Director of Flight Operations for the Skunk Works.
His military awards include 2 Legion of Merit medals for classified flight operations, 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and 8 Air Medals.
Ferg's loves were his wife Jan, flying and C1 Corvettes. He was the nicest, most helpful person I've ever met and he truly had the Right Stuff.
Dr. George
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