Unique Dual Qualification

Photo by Chris A. Neill

In late January 2013, Lt. Col. Chris Spinelli, the commander of the 445th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, California, earned a unique distinction, becoming dual flight qualified in the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the KC-135 Stratotanker. According to Spinelli, this unique opportunity arose after he noticed the demand for tanker test pilots within his squadron, especially in light of the on-going F-35 tanker qualification testing. Of the four aircraft his squadron flies, Spinelli already had extensive F-16 flight time; he finished Undergraduate Pilot Training in the T-38; and he had picked up hours in the C-12 during Test Pilot School. He went through an accelerated transition course to qualify in the KC-135.