Robert L. Stephens

Robert L. "Silver Fox" Stephens (December 1, 1921 – May 21, 1984) was a United States Air Force test pilot who set several speed and altitude records while testing the Lockheed YF-12 and SR-71.

Robert L. Stephens
Colonel Robert L. Stephens by YF-12 in 1965
Nickname(s)The Silver Fox
Born(1921-12-01)December 1, 1921
Gilmer, Texas, U.S.
DiedMay 21, 1984(1984-05-21) (aged 62)
Munich, West Germany
Place of burial
Gilmer City Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army Air Forces
United States Air Force
Years of service1943–1973
Rank Colonel
Commands heldChief of Fighter Operations, Edwards AFB, 1952–55
Test Director F-104 1954–58
Test Director YF-12 and SR-71 1963–68
AwardsLegion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Medal
Other workAerospace Representative

Biography

Early years

Robert L. Stephens was born on December 1, 1921, and raised in Gilmer, Texas, graduating from Gilmer High School in 1939[1] and from Texas A&M University in 1943 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering.[2] The son of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon J. Stephens, he entered the Army Air Corps in 1943[3] and flew P-47s in combat during World War II.[4] After the war, he earned a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Princeton University.[2]

Test pilot

Stephens rose to the top of his profession as a test pilot for some of the most exotic aircraft in the USAF inventory. In 1949, he graduated from the Air Materiel Command Experimental Test Pilot School at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base with Class 49D.[5] He was called the "Silver Fox" due to his prematurely gray hair which he kept in a neatly trimmed crew cut.[1] In 1952, Stephens arrived at Edwards Air Force Base, California to serve as Chief of Fighter Operations.[6] From 1963 to 1968, he served as test director of the YF-12 and SR-71 test force.[7] He was the first military pilot to fly the YF-12A interceptor and the SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft.[1]

Stephens and Andre after their record setting YF-12A flight in 1965

Stephens flew nearly all jet fighter aircraft of the 1940s and 1950s era from the F-80 Shooting Star to the F-106 Delta Dart.[2] He flight tested the YF-100A, YF-102, XF-104, X-5, X-1B, Navy F2H3, F4D, the F-94 series, F-86, F-89D, F-89H, and YF-101.[7] He served as test director for the F-104 program and performed the first wingtip fuel tank jettison test. On this flight, the fuel tanks slammed into the fuselage of the F-104 instead of falling free. Stephens made an emergency landing and saved the aircraft. Working with Lockheed engineers and other aviation consultants, he helped solve this and other problems with the F-104.[8]

On May 1, 1965, at Edwards Air Force Base, pilot Stephens and fire control officer Daniel Andre, established four world speed and altitude records in the YF-12A.[9] They averaged 2,070 miles per hour over a 17-kilometer straight away course, then held 80,257 feet to establish a world record for sustained horizontal flight.[7][10] These records stood until 1977 when they were surpassed by an SR-71.[4]

After retiring from the military in 1973, Stephens was the U.S. representative for the German jet engine firm, MTU.[3]

Personal life

Stephens died in 1984 in Munich, Germany[3] and was buried in Gilmer City Cemetery. He is survived by his widow, Joy, and three daughters.[4]

Honors

Stephens was awarded the following medals for his military service: Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal.[1] He was also honored with the 1965 Thompson Trophy,[11] 1965 Mackay Trophy,[12] Flying Tiger Trophy,[7] Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Gold Medal,[13] De la Vaulx Medal,[13] Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement,[4] and the city of Lancaster Aerospace Walk of Honor.[7][14] On June 18, 1966, a parade was held in Gilmer, Texas to celebrate "Bobby Stephens Day".[4] On October 20, 2000 in Gilmer, Texas the Gilmer Airfield officially changed its name to "Fox Stephens Field" in honor of Colonel Stephens.[4]

Stephens was a member of the International Order of Characters and was a Fellow and past president of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.[7]

Notes
  1. "Robert L. Stephens Biography". Gilmer, Texas: Flight of the Phoenix Aviation Museum, Inc. Archived from the original on August 8, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  2. Marrett, Contrails Over the Mojave, p. 97
  3. Barnes, Bart (May 25, 1984). "Robert Stephens, World Record Test Pilot, Dies". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  4. Williams, Phillip (August 21, 1999). "Airport renamed for "Fox" Stephens". The Gilmer Mirror. 122 (67). Gilmer, Texas. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  5. (1994) USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond, p. 67
  6. Slayton, Deke! An Autobiography, p. 58
  7. "Aerospace Walk of Honor 1998". City of Lancaster, California. July 13, 2006. Archived from the original on May 27, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  8. Marrett, Contrails Over the Mojave. p. 98
  9. Marrett, Testing Death, p. 39
  10. "NASA Armstrong Fact Sheet: YF-12 Experimental Fighter-Interceptor". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. February 28, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  11. "1965 Thompson Trophy". National Museum of the United States Air Force. June 5, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  12. "Mackay 1960-1969 Recipients". National Aeronautic Association. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  13. "FAI Awards received by Col. Robert L. Stephens (USA)". Archived from the original on June 8, 2007. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  14. Rock, Carol (August 28, 1998). "Aerospace Walk of Honor Ceremonies Set Sept. 19". The Signal. Santa Clarita, California. p. 45 – via Newspapers.com.
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References
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