Test pilot, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California, 1972 - 1987

This sub-group consists of photographs, certificates, and clippings from Bridges' time as a test pilot. The last 2/3rds of the binder contains clippings dealing with various aircraft, including Fairchild's A-10, A-7, Northrop A-9A, A-10A, A-7D, and fly-offs, circa 1972-1977.

After returning from Vietnam, Bridges was assigned as an instructor pilot with the 3575th Pilot Training Squadron at Vance AFB, Oklahoma, from January 1969 to July 1970. He then... attended Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, California, graduating in July 1971, and serving as a Test Pilot at Edwards from July 1971 to July 1975. Major Bridges attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from August 1975 to June 1976, and then served as program element monitor for the F-15 and A-10 programs. He has logged more than 3,800 hours flying time in the following aircraft: T-2, T-28, T-33, T-37, T-38, T-41, A-37, A-7, A-9, A-10, B-26, B-52, B-57, F-100, F-104, NF-104, F-106, F-4, KC-135, and G-2 (Shuttle Training Aircraft). This sub-group contains Bridges' application for Aerospace Research Pilot, working files, flight test cards, evaluations, test plans, briefings, technical reports, and other documents from Bridges' time at the AFFTC, Edwards Air Force Base, CA. There is an emphasis on the A-9A, A-10A, YA-9, YA-10, A-7 and A-10.