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Steven M. Rainey

Summary

Steven M. Rainey is a test pilot and retired United States Air Force (USAF) officer. As of 2022, he is a test pilot for Stratolaunch Systems working on the Scaled Composites Stratolaunch aircraft. Previously, he was Lockheed Martin's chief F-22 test pilot, Boeing's lead F-22 test pilot, and commander of the USAF 411th Flight Test Squadron. He is noted for a number of achievements while flight testing the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. He was the first USAF pilot to fly the aircraft, the first pilot to perform aerial refueling in the F-22, and the first pilot to fly cross-country in the Raptor.

Steven M. Rainey
Rainey in 2010
Nickname(s)Hooter
Service/branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1980–2000
RankLt. Colonel
Commands held411th Flight Test Squadron
Battles/warsCold War
Other workF-22 Chief Test Pilot

Rainey was the president of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots for 2012 and is a fellow of the organization.

Military career edit

Rainey attended the United States Air Force Academy and graduated in 1980 with a degree in Engineering Mechanics. He attended undergraduate pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma. Rainey was stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany where he flew the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II.[1]

After service in Europe, Rainey was assigned to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where he performed flight testing on the F-4 and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. In 1990, he graduated from the University of Miami with a master's degree in mechanical engineering. He was selected to attend the United States Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland and graduated in 1991. After test pilot school, Rainey was assigned to the F-16 Combined Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base in California where he tested avionics upgrades and new subsystems including the HARM Targeting System.[1]

F-22 flight testing edit

 
Rainey was the first pilot to perform air refueling in the F-22

In 1994, Rainey joined the F-22 system program office and two years later was assigned as operations officer for the F-22 Combined Test Force (CTF)—the joint USAF/contractor group that led all F-22 flight test operations.[2] He evaluated the Boeing life support system that was specially developed to counter the effects of high g-loading produced by the highly maneuverable fighter.[3] Included in Rainey's assessment was the HGU-86/P helmet that contained numerous improvements over earlier models including a more secure fit, active noise reduction, and better protection in the event of ejection.[4] Rainey described the helmet as "one of the lightest and most comfortable" he had ever used.[5]

On September 7, 1997, Rainey flew one of the chase aircraft supporting the F-22 first flight from Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia. Rainey and Lockheed test pilot Jon Beesley took off first in their F-16s and circled around to join up with F-22 chief test pilot Paul Metz flying Raptor 01—the first of nine aircraft built during the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase. The F-22's rate of climb exceeded expectations making it difficult for Rainey and Beesley to keep up. During the successful fifty-eight-minute flight, Metz evaluated engine power settings, landing gear operation, and formation flying qualities.[6][7] After a second test flight, Raptor 01 arrived at Edwards AFB on February 5, 1998, carried aboard a Lockheed C-5 Galaxy for additional testing in which Rainey would play a significant role.[8]

 
Raptor 02, piloted by Rainey, on the F-22 program's first cross continental flight

On May 17, 1998, he became the first Air Force pilot to fly the F-22 during a mission to evaluate flying qualities, speed brake handling, and formation flying. The eighty-minute mission in Raptor 01 was considered the start of formal flight test for the EMD phase of the program.[9] On June 29, 1998, at the Lockheed plant in Marietta, Rainey flew chase for Metz during the first flight of the second EMD aircraft—Raptor 02.[10]

On July 30, 1998, Rainey became the first pilot to perform air-to-air refueling in an F-22, taking Raptor 01 on a ninety-minute mission with a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker from the 452d Flight Test Squadron. Rainey and the refueling crew tested the characteristics of the F-22's refueling system and verified the limits of safe operation. The test was a success, and Rainey reported the F-22 was "extremely stable with outstanding flying qualities."[11]

Less than a month later, Rainey flew Raptor 02 from Marietta, Georgia to Edwards Air Force Base on the first non-stop cross-country flight for an F-22. Accompanied by chase aircraft and tankers, the 4.5 hour flight ended successfully at noon on August 26, 1998, adding a second Raptor to the CTF test program.[2][12] Rainey summed up his experience by stating, "It's the best flying aircraft I have flown, and it sets a new standard of excellence in fighter aviation."[13]

At the 42nd annual symposium of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots held in September 1999, Rainey and Lt. Colonel Allen Kohn updated their peers on the status of the F-22 test program. The presentation summarized the envelope expansion testing of the last year and provided insight into the integration challenges of an aircraft where software is involved in nearly every action, including lowering the landing gear.[14]

In 1999, Rainey starred in Pushing the Envelope, the third episode of the Test Pilots documentary series created by The Learning Channel. Narrated by actor Alec Baldwin, this show discussed the risks involved with flight testing using Rainey's F-22 test experience as an example.[15]

 
Rainey briefs CSAF Michael Ryan prior to flying chase for an F-22 mission

In January 2000, after Rainey assumed command of the 411th Flight Test Squadron, Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten Peters visited the F-22 Combined Test Force. Rainey and fellow test pilot David Nelson gave Peters a personal tour of the aircraft.[16]

During a January 2000 visit by the USAF Chief of Staff, Rainey and General Michael Ryan supported an F-22 test mission by flying alongside in F-16s. Ryan remarked that the hour-long flight left him "even more rabid" about the Air Force's new air superiority fighter.[17] Weeks later, during a visit to Tuzla Air Base in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the chase flight with Rainey was still fresh in Ryan's mind. Ryan's enthusiastic description of the F-22's performance relative to the F-16 that he flew left the audience in awe.[18]

On March 15, 2000, a third F-22 arrived at Edwards with a fourth due later that year. Rainey noted the effect the F-22's increasing maturity had on the pilot training program. New pilots, such as Lt. Colonel Bill Craig who delivered aircraft 4003, would arrive in increasing numbers to support the test program's needs. Rainey also expressed excitement at the arrival of aircraft 4004 that would allow CTF personnel to evaluate the integrated avionics suite and the promise of allowing a pilot to become "a tactician rather than a housekeeper."[19][20] Rainey retired from the Air Force later that year with the rank of lieutenant colonel.[1]

Civilian career edit

After twenty years of military service, Rainey transitioned to commercial aviation as a pilot for American Airlines. Three years later, he returned to Edwards AFB after accepting a pilot position in the United States civil service.

Boeing edit

In 2005, Rainey joined Boeing Defense, Space & Security as the company's lead test pilot for the F-22. He participated in many testing activities including the initial missions to verify the aircraft could safely carry the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb.[1]

All of the sensor information has been fused into a single picture for the pilot. Information is what is going to be the key to success on the battlefield.

— Rainey on the F-22's avionics[21]

Rainey has been a strong advocate for the F-22. On November 14, 2006, he described the aircraft's performance at the Aerospace Testing Exposition in Anaheim, California.[22] Rainey and fellow test pilots, David Cooley, James Brown, and Bret Luedke toured the United States giving demonstrations of the F-22 cockpit simulator to raise awareness and support for the aircraft.[23][24] After Cooley was killed flying an F-22 test mission, Rainey fondly remembered his friend as "a consummate professional and a true leader"[25]

Cadets from the USAF Academy come to Edwards AFB to receive instruction in aviation sciences and airmanship. Rainey participated in these events by providing orientation flights for cadets such as sophomore Callie Brown. In March 2008, Brown received her orientation flight in an F-16 piloted by Rainey. This flight was especially memorable for Rainey because cadet Brown is the daughter of fellow F-22 test pilot, James Brown, who flew in formation with another Air Force Academy cadet in his back seat.[26]

 
Rainey addresses SETP members at the Society's 2012 Awards Banquet

Rainey also encouraged civilian students to achieve academic excellence. In 2008, Rainey was the guest speaker at a dinner, sponsored by the Antelope Valley Athletic Club, that recognized outstanding students in local schools.[27] Rainey has been a significant contributor to the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He was the chairman of the West Coast section from 2005 through 2008 and was the society President for 2012.[28]

In March 2012, Rainey met with Harald and Margi Bauer and gave them a tour of the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB. As a teenager during World War II, Bauer tested the Heinkel He 162 for the German Luftwaffe. After the war, he graduated from the University of Kentucky, became a United States citizen, flew for U.S. Navy during the Korean War, and had a successful career as an Associated Press and United Press International journalist.[29][30]

During 2012, Rainey continued to perform F-22 flight testing at Edwards AFB. On April 6, he was on hand to congratulate his friend, James Brown, who became the first test pilot to reach 1,000 flight hours in the F-22.[31]

On May 4, 2012, Rainey piloted the first flight of the QF-16 Full-Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) at Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Florida. The QF-16 is a target drone variant of the F-16 that is planned to replace the aging QF-4. Rainey's 66-minute flight to validate flying qualities and drone operation is the first step of the QF-16 flight test program that will be performed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Holloman Air Force Base, and White Sands Missile Range.[32]

Rainey flew the 1,000th sortie of the Raptor program on April 19, 2013, in aircraft 4007 while testing the Increment 3.2A avionics software upgrade. Aircraft 4007 is the oldest flying Raptor and is often referred to as the "James Bond jet" due to the similarity with the fictional British secret agent's code name - "007".[33]

Lockheed Martin edit

In January 2014, Rainey joined Lockheed Martin as F-22 chief test pilot. He spent the next year testing improvements and new capabilities on the jet. On January 22, 2015, Rainey reached a milestone 1,000 hours flying the F-22 Raptor.[34] As test director, Rainey has been overseeing F-22 capability improvements including weapons, data links, and an automatic ground collision avoidance system.[35]

Rainey has worked on the F-22 program nearly from its beginning. On May 17, 1998, he was the first Air Force pilot to fly the F-22. Exactly twenty years later on May 17, 2018, now as Lockheed's chief F-22 test pilot, Rainey again flew the fighter to exceed 1,260 flight hours in the Raptor. To celebrate this anniversary, Rainey received a “wash down” from the ground support team.[36] Normally reserved for a pilot's final or “fini” flight, a wash down soaks the pilot with water or champagne as he or she exits the aircraft. The wash down has been a tradition for military aviators since World War II.[37]

Stratolaunch Systems edit

In 2022, Rainey left Lockheed Martin and accepted a test pilot position with Stratolaunch Systems where he is helping to test the world's largest airplane, Scaled Composites Roc, that will eventually be used to launch aerospace payloads. On May 4, 2022, Rainey co-piloted Roc on the first test of a pylon to which hypersonic vehicles will be mounted.[38] In 2023, he provided insights on the F-22 and the Roc at an event hosted by the Western Museum of Flight,[39] and described challenges landing large aircraft.[40]

Rainey and his wife, Cindy, live at the Rosamond Skypark where they fly their Van's Aircraft RV-4 and Cessna 180 Skywagon.[41]

Honors edit

Rainey is a fellow and past president of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.[42]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Steve Rainey Biography". Lancaster, California: The Society of Experimental Test Pilots. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Pace 1999, p. 36.
  3. ^ Sweetman 1998, p. 485.
  4. ^ Drendel 2011, p. 38.
  5. ^ "Boeing Completes Safety-Of-Flight Testing of Life-Support System for F-22 Fighter Pilots". Chicago, Illinois: Boeing. May 22, 1997. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  6. ^ Pace 1999, pp. 28–30.
  7. ^ "F-22 Raptor Soars in First Flight". Chicago, Illinois: Boeing. September 7, 1997. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  8. ^ Pace 1999, p. 35.
  9. ^ "F-22 Raptor: Edwards begins flight testing". Desert Wings. Edwards Air Force Base, California: USAF Flight Test Center Public Affairs. July 1998. Archived from the original on May 10, 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  10. ^ Pace 1999, p. 33.
  11. ^ "Testers complete first aerial refueling". Edwards Air Force Base, California: USAF Flight Test Center Public Affairs. July 30, 1998. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  12. ^ "Second Raptor Flies Non-stop Cross Country to Edwards". Release No. 98-08-26. Edwards Air Force Base, California: USAF Flight Test Center Public Affairs. August 26, 1998. Archived from the original on February 25, 2002. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  13. ^ Pace 1999, p. 87.
  14. ^ Rainey & Kohn 1998, p. 38.
  15. ^ Southern, Nathan (2010). "Test Pilots: Pushing the Envelope (1999)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. New York, New York. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  16. ^ "No Other Fighter Like It, Boss". Edwards Air Force Base, California: USAF Flight Test Center Public Affairs. January 2000. Archived from the original on October 3, 2002. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  17. ^ Johnson 2000a.
  18. ^ Clor 2001.
  19. ^ Grier 2000, p. 25.
  20. ^ Johnson 2000b.
  21. ^ F-22 Raptor "Bird of Prey". 1998. p. cover.
  22. ^ "Aerospace Testing Expo and Aerospace Design Expo North America". San Francisco, California: Aviation News. November 15, 2006. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  23. ^ "Boeing, Lockheed team to make the case for the F-22 Raptor". Seattle, Washington: Seattlepi. April 17, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  24. ^ Minch 2009.
  25. ^ Thurber 2009.
  26. ^ Reynolds 2008, p. 1.
  27. ^ Roth 2008.
  28. ^ "SETP Presidents". Lancaster, California: The Society of Experimental Test Pilots. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  29. ^ "EWM Members Harald and Margi Bauer pose with F-22 Test Pilot Steve "Hooter" Rainey". Paso Robles, California: Estrella Warbird Museum. March 17, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  30. ^ Reynolds, Linda KC (March 17, 2012a). "Former Luftwaffe pilot visits Edwards". Lancaster, California: Aerotech News. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  31. ^ Reynolds 2012b, p. 1.
  32. ^ Parker, Wendy (September 4, 2012). "QF-16 Takes Flight". Seatlle, Washington: Boeing. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  33. ^ Mowry, Laura (April 24, 2013). "CTF celebrates Raptor's 1,000th sortie". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  34. ^ Amber 2015.
  35. ^ Tirpak 2015.
  36. ^ Reynolds 2018.
  37. ^ Hall 2016.
  38. ^ Patterson 2022.
  39. ^ "Test Pilot's Insights on the F-22 Raptor and Stratolaunch's Hypersonic Platforms with Steve Rainey". YouTube. Western Museum of Flight. January 24, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  40. ^ Helfrich, Emma (March 29, 2023). "How To Land The World's Biggest Aircraft According To Its Test Pilot". The Warzone. Current Ventures. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  41. ^ Reynolds 2015.
  42. ^ "2012 Fellow Class". Lancaster, California: The Society of Experimental Test Pilots. 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2015.

References edit

  • Amber, Rebecca (January 28, 2015). "F-22 pilot reaches 1,000 flight hours". Inside Edwards. Edwards Air Force Base, California: United States Air Force. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  • Clor, Staff Sgt. Jody (January 31, 2001). "Ryan discuss EAF, Raptor progress during Tuzla visit". Air Force News. Ramstein Air Base, Germany: 401st Expeditionary Air Base Group Public Affairs. Archived from the original on November 30, 2001. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  • Drendel, Lou (2011). F-22 Raptor In Action. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications. ISBN 978-0-89747-627-0.
  • "F-22 Raptor "Bird of Prey"". Edwards Air Force Base, California: USAF Flight Test Center Public Affairs. April 1998. Archived from the original on December 14, 2001. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  • Grier, Peter (May 2000). "Aerospace World: Newest Raptor Arrives at Edwards" (PDF). Air Force Magazine. 83 (5). Air Force Association: 25. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  • Hall, Senior Airman Apryl (May 20, 2016). "The Fini-Flight: An Aviator's Tradition". Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, USA: United States Air Force. Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs. Archived from the original on June 3, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  • Johnson, Ray (January 12, 2000a). "Ryan praises F-22 after chase flight". Air Force News. Edwards Air Force Base, California: USAF Flight Test Center Public Affairs. Archived from the original on March 2, 2000. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  • Johnson, Ray (March 15, 2000b). "Raptor 4003 swoops into Edwards". Air Force News. Edwards Air Force Base, California: USAF Flight Test Center Public Affairs. Archived from the original on May 11, 2000. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  • Minch, Jack (February 5, 2009). "With help from flight simulator, test pilots at Hanscom Field make case for Raptor funding". The Sun. Lowell, Massachusetts. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  • Pace, Steve (1999). F-22 Raptor: America's Next Lethal War Machine. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-134271-0.
  • Patterson, Thom (May 4, 2022). "World's Largest Airplane Flies a Fifth Time, Moving Closer to Hypersonic Tests". Flying. Winter Park, Florida: David Carr. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  • Rainey, Lt Col Steven; Kohn, Lt Col (Ret) Allen E. Jr. (1998). "F-22 Flight Test Program Update". The Society of Experimental Test Pilots; Proceedings of the 42nd Annual Symposium. Lancaster, California: The Society of Experimental Test Pilots. pp. 34–52. Archived from the original on November 16, 2001. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  • Reynolds, Linda KC (March 28, 2008). "Cadets receive orientation flight at Edwards" (PDF). Desert Eagle. 2 (14). Lancaster, California: Aerotech News and Review: 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  • Reynolds, Linda KC (April 13, 2012b). "Lockheed chief test pilot hits 1,000 hours in Raptor" (PDF). Aerotech News and Review. 28 (11). Lancaster, California: Aerotech News and Review, Inc.: 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  • Reynolds, Linda KC (February 6, 2015). "Lockheed Martin pilot hits 1,000 hours in Raptor". Aerotech News and Review. 28 (44). Lancaster, California: Aerotech News and Review, Inc.: 1. Archived from the original on June 28, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  • Reynolds, Linda KC (June 1, 2018). "Lockheed Martin pilot celebrates 20th anniversary of his first flight in the F-22". Aerotech News and Review. 32 (9). Lancaster, California: Aerotech News and Review, Inc.: 8. Archived from the original on June 3, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  • Roth, Liana M. (July 2008). "LMLA Palmdale Joins Others in Recognizing 4.0 Achievers" (PDF). NMA Breaktime. Dayton, Ohio: National Management Association. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 25, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  • Sweetman, Bill (May 17, 1998). F-22 Raptor (Enthusiast Color) (Kindle ed.). Minneapolis, Minnesota: Zenith Imprint. ISBN 978-0-76030-484-6.
  • Thurber, Jon (March 30, 2009). "David P. Cooley dies at 49; test pilot worked for Air Force, Lockheed Martin before fatal crash". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  • Tirpak, John A. (August 2015). "Fifth Gen Flight Test". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved August 1, 2015.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Steven M. Rainey.
  • "Air Dominance With The F-22 Raptor" (PDF). Avionics Magazine. Rockville, Maryland: Access Intelligence, LLC. July 28, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 30, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  • "F-22 Fighter Pilot Steve Rainey at WLS-AM". Resolute Consulting. July 28, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  • "F-22 Raptor Flight Test". Alexandria, Virginia: Global Security. July 7, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  • "Steven M. Rainey Biography". Test & Research Pilots, Flight Test Engineers. Scotland, United Kingdom: The Tartan Terror. March 26, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  • "Teenage Test Pilot Harald P. Bauer". Celebrity Lecture Series. Torrance, California: Western Museum of Flight. June 16, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2018.

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