Lockheed XP-80 Shooting Star "Lulu Belle", first of a prolific family
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On this day, at Muroc Army Air Field (now Edwards AFB) in the Mojave desert, Lockheed chief test pilot Milo Burcham took the second US jet fighter, the XP-80, for its first flight. Tex Johnston was then flying the other jet engine Bell XP-59. After a brilliant demonstration of the capabilities of the XP-80 in front of numerous dignitaries, Johnston sent a cable to his mother company: “WITNESSED LOCKHEED XP-80 INITIAL FLIGHT STOP VERY IMPRESSIVE STOP BACK TO DRAWING BOARD STOP SIGNED, TEX”. The XP-80 was the first US aircraft to exceed 500mph in level flight and indeed the first of a large family (F-80, T-33, TV-2, F-94). At this time, Allied forces a preparing the invasion of France, which would happen 6 months later in Normandy
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- Robin MORET
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